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The Bucks will be playing to avoid a 3-0 series deficit when they take their home court against the defending champion Heat on Thursday night.
Sportsbook.ag has the current Line & Total: Miami -7.5 & 195
Milwaukee was right in Game 2 for three quarters, but then Miami, yet again, flipped a switch, winning the game 98-86 behind a balanced attack led by Dwyane Wade. Wade had 21 points in the game and scored timely buckets to counter Bucks runs. One thing the Heat didn’t do in Game 2, however, was cover the 14-point spread. They failed to do so, despite a very poor shooting night from the Bucks backcourt in which Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings combined to make only 5-of-22 FG (23%), including 0-for-10 from three-point range. Although Milwaukee was a winning team at home (21-20 SU), it was a paltry 15-25 ATS (38%) at BMO Harris Bradley Center this season. Miami was outstanding on the road this season, going 29-12 SU and 24-17 ATS (59%).
The Heat have dominated the first two games of this series with help from almost every player on the roster. In Game 2, SG Dwyane Wade led the way with 21 points (8-of-14 FG) and seven rebounds, but SF LeBron James was also a difference maker as always. James was 0-for-3 from three-point range, but he had 19 points, six assists and eight rebounds in the game. Some of the biggest contributions for Miami on Tuesday came from its bench players. SF Shane Battier was 2-of-5 from three and 4-for-4 from the free throw line to add 10 points and a +17 rating for Miami in just 24 minutes. The Heat also got tons of energy from PF Chris Andersen, who has become a fan favorite at AmericanAirlines Arena. The “Birdman” finished the game with 10 points, six rebounds and a +14 rating in just 12 minutes of play. He has provided the Heat with another defensive presence in the small spurts he has been on the court. SG Ray Allen shot poorly (2-of-8 FG), but had four assists and a game-best +26 rating. PF Chris Bosh finished with just 10 points and six boards, lowering his postseason averages to 12.5 PPG and 6.5 RPG.
The Bucks definitely feel better about their Game 2 performance than they did after Game 1. On Tuesday, Milwaukee was right in the game despite their best two scorers having an off-night. PG Monta Ellis was 2-for-7 FG (0-for-3 threes) and PG Brandon Jennings shot 3-for-15 from the floor and 0-for-7 from downtown. The backcourt did had five assists apiece, but posted a combined minus-20 rating with six turnovers. Despite being outrebounded 43-33, the Bucks got major offensive contributions in this game from their frontcourt though, with SF Ersan Ilyasova, C Larry Sanders and SF Mike Dunleavy. Ilyasova had 21 points (9-of-14 FG) and six rebounds in 29 minutes of play, while Sanders, who battled foul trouble in the game, scored 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. Sanders also had six rebounds and five turnovers. Mike Dunleavy provided instant offense off the bench for Milwaukee, going 6-of-9 from the field and 2-for-5 from three with 16 points, six rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes of play.
