Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks takes place tonight. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on TNT. Currently the odds for the game have the Heat favored by 7 points.
It's certainly saying something that the Heat are favored by 7 points heading to Milwaukee for this game tonight. The Bucks were telling everyone that would listen prior to the series that they were not only going to hang around but win the series over the Heat. That swagger has not worked out well at all.
The Heat have boat-raced the Bucks in two games and oddsmakers are thinking they'll be able to do it again in tonight's game. LeBron James knows his team has a real chance to get a couple of wins here in Milwaukee and if they're able to win tonight, they'll have a chance to close out the series in the next game.
Look for the Heat to continue to put pressure on the Milwaukee starters in this one. The Bucks have never won a series after losing the first two games. The Heat, meanwhile, have never lost a series in which they had a 2-0 lead.
Dating back to the regular season, the Heat have won 39 of their last 41 games overall. Chris Andersen has been playing well and gives the Heat a legitimate option off the bench and his defensive presence has been effective as well. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh haven't had the best series, averaging just 31 points between the duo so far and yet the team is still 2-0.
Monta Ellis has been averaging just under 15 points in the opening two games and along with Brandon Jennings combined for 48 points in Game 1. Yet in the second game of this series Ersan Ilyasova (21 points) and Mike Dunleavy (16) picked up the slack. If the Bucks are getting multiple guys in double digits they are going to have a chance.
But the Heat are favored in this game on the road for a reason. It isn't an overreaction at all, the Heat are just playing that well right now and are the NBA's clear and best team.
Free Pick: Heat 101, Bucks 88
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