Heat vs. Bucks, 5/22/21 NBA Playoffs Predictions

Heat vs. Bucks NBA Prediction

The under has been profitable when the Heat and Bucks have met and the two teams will square off at 2:00 p.m. ET in the NBA Conference Quarterfinals at 2:00 p.m. ET on Saturday. With the total sitting at 227, will the under cash again?

Game Snapshot

503 Miami Heat (+4.5) at 504 Milwaukee Bucks (-4.5); o/u 227

2:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 22, 2021

Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

Miami Heat DFS Notes

The Heat had every player practice on Wednesday, including Jimmy Butler (lower back tightness). Obviously, that does not include Victor Oladipo (ruptured quad). Butler was essentially rested for Miami's regular-season finale, along with Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala, Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn. All of them are healthy and ready to go for Game 1 vs. Milwaukee on Saturday. They'll be facing a highly-motivated Bucks team whom they defeated in the postseason last year. Bucks owner Marc Lasry even said that Milwaukee didn't rest players in their May 15 matchup to "send a message [to the Heat] ... I think that message has been received. I think it’ll be a great matchup for [the Bucks]." Butler and company have a counter-point they'll try to make on Saturday.

Milwaukee Bucks DFS Notes

Giannis Antetokounmpo shot 14-of-18 from the field and 11-of-16 from the line on his way to 40 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, a steal and a triple in 35 minutes of a 142-133 win against the Pacers on Thursday. This was his third 40/15/5 game of his career, with only Russell Westbrook having more than him with five of such instances in the same span. The Bucks now sit just a single game behind the Nets for the No. 2 seed in the East, and while it’s unlikely, they could take it away from Brooklyn. For what it’s worth, they have the highest point differential in the conference at +5.9 per game, yet it seems like both their losses are more lopsided than they’d like them to be. They’ll try to get some revenge against Miami on Saturday, who eliminated them from the playoffs just one season ago. Khris Middleton did his thing with 22 points, Brook Lopez had 21 and eight with a block, and Jrue Holiday had a 20/14 double-double with four boards and a season-high tying four blocks.

Heat vs. Bucks Playoffs Prediction

The under is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings between these two teams and is 10-4 in the Heat’s last 14 games versus an opponent with a winning record. The under is also 5-1 in Miami’s last six conference quarterfinals games and is 5-2 in the Bucks’ last seven home games. Finally, the under is 10-4 in Milwaukee’s last 14 games coming off a loss.

NBA PLAYOFFS PREDICTION: HEAT/BUCKS UNDER 227