One win away from securing a guaranteed spot in the postseason, the Milwaukee Bucks will set out to get the job done when they visit the Kaseya Center to face off against the Miami Heat on Sunday.
The home side, on the other hand, will be aiming to improve their play-in standings by potentially grabbing the seventh or eighth seed with automatic playoff qualification now out of the picture.
Match preview
© Imago
Having established themselves as playoff regulars over the last five years, the Milwaukee Bucks started the current campaign with a 2-8 record after their opening 10 matches and looked to be in grave danger of missing out on the postseason.
While Doc Rivers's men have not hit the heights many would have anticipated, they have since recovered from an early season slump with multiple ups and downs along the way, including December's NBA Cup triumph.
After losing each of their final four matches in March, the Bucks are 2-0 in April so far thanks to Friday's emphatic 126-113 victory over an out-of-sorts Philadelphia 76ers outfit at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Bucks made a slow start to the contest and had a 14-point deficit to make up at the end of the first quarter, but after the Wisconsin-based side managed to go into the interval with a two-point lead, there was always going to be only one winner at the sound of the final buzzer.
Making history as he has done so often, talisman Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first-ever player to record 35 points, 17 rebounds and 20 assists to lead the clash in all three major statistical categories.
Now back up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, Sunday's visitors will head to Miami this weekend in search of three wins on the bounce for the first time since early March and, most importantly, a victory that would see them over the line with respect to playoff qualification.
Fresh from putting the seal on their three-game road trip with an emphatic 124-103 triumph over defending champions the Boston Celtics to make it six wins on the spin, the Miami were back in action on home court against the Memphis Grizzlies, who claimed a hard-fought 110-108 victory.
In a back-and-forth game that saw multiple ties and several lead changes, Erik Spoelstra's men looked set to force an additional five minutes of play thanks to Tyler Herro's game-tying shot with 15 seconds left, but there was still time for Ja Morant to hit a game-winning buzzer beater.
While the Heat will be disappointed to have lost in such a cruel manner, Herro's display was once again a cause for delight as the guard tallied yet another 30-point game to continue his increased offensive output since the departure of Jimmy Butler.
With the Orlando Magic claiming a crunch win over the Washington Wizards earlier today, the Heat are now three wins adrift of seventh place with a 35-42 record, albeit having played one game fewer.
The Heat will aim to get back to winning ways in Sunday's meeting against an opposing side that have dominated this fixture of late, emerging victorious from five of the last six encounters, most recently 125-96 and 120-113 wins in January and February respectively.
Giving up exactly as many points per game as they are scoring (109.8), the Heat will need some extra effort on at least one end of the court if they are to string together an impressive run of results to close out the regular season.
- W
- W
- W
- W
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
- W
Team News
© Imago
Damian Lillard remains unavailable for the Milwaukee Bucks due to a deep vein thrombosis in his calf but could return to action before the regular season winds up.
However, Bobby Portis will not play any part for the away side as he continues to serve a suspension for doping, while Jericho Sims remains out with a torn ligament in his right thumb.
AJ Green shook off a minor injury concern to feature against the 76ers last time out, and the guard is expected to take to the court once again this weekend.
Andrew Wiggins (hamstring) and Nikola Jovic (hand) both missed the Heat's defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies and are huge doubts to suit up for Sunday's encounter.
Terry Rozier was also absent from the aforementioned game due to illness, but there is a significant level of optimism the 31-year-old will be fit enough to take part here.
Dru Smith underwent surgery back in December to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon and will miss out for the home side alongside Kevin Love (personal reasons).
Miami Heat possible starting five:
Herro, Rozier; Burks, Adebayo; Ware
Milwaukee Bucks possible starting five:
Rollins, Prince; Kuzma, Antetokounmpo; Lopez
We say: Bucks to win by 6+ points
The Bucks have had the upper hand in this fixture more often than not of late, and Sunday's affair affords them another opportunity to keep that run going.
While we expect a keenly contested affair, we are also backing the away side to get the job done.
Adepoju Marvellous
