Heat vs. Bucks Game 5 Prediction
The Heat and Bucks will square off in Game 5 tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET as Milwaukee looks to stave off elimination once again. Listed as a small underdog, are the Bucks a solid betting play tonight or will the Heat prevail and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals?
Game Snapshot
705 Miami Heat (-3) vs. 706 Milwaukee Bucks (+3); o/u 217.5
6:30 p.m. ET, Tuesday, September 8, 2020
NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals, Game 5
TNT; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Miami Heat DFS Spin
Jimmy Butler scored 17 points as the Heat lost Game 4, going 6-of-15 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line, with five boards, two assists, two steals and three turnovers. Butler has been in attack-mode all series long. He came in scoring 9.7 points from the free-throw line, adding 13.4 points from the field for a career playoff-high 23.1 points this postseason, but Milwaukee limited him to six attempts in Sunday’s win for the Bucks. Butler will assuredly be in attack-mode during Game 5 on Tuesday.
Milwaukee Bucks DFS Spin
Giannis Antetokounmpo (right ankle sprain) will not return to Sunday’s Game 4, finishing with 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting, one 3-pointer, four rebounds, one steal and one block in 11 minutes. He landed awkwardly in the first half and tweaked a pre-existing injury that occurred in Game 3. Giannis was able to take free throws to allow himself to return, but obviously the injury couldn’t be simply re-taped. He looked fine on the ankle prior to the injury and the Bucks are likely taking a long-term view. If they avoid elimination in Game 4, it’s unclear if Antetokounmpo will return for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Heat vs. Bucks Game 5 Betting Prediction
If oddsmakers weren’t at least a little concerned about Giannis’ ankle, I don’t think the Heat would be laying three. That’s why I’m taking Miami to finish off Milwaukee tonight. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Giannis will be listed as questionable for tonight’s game and while the Bucks are optimistic that he’ll play, how effective will he be is the question. The Heat were already doing a great job defending him in the paint as it was, now he’s not 100%? No thanks. Miami has been a bad matchup for Milwaukee in both the regular season and postseason and now the Heat smell blood in the water. Baring a disastrous offensive performance by Butler, I like the Heat to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win tonight.
NBA PLAYOFFS GAME 5 PREDICTION: MIAMI HEAT -3