The 6-seed Miami Heat and 3-seed Milwaukee Bucks play Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Saturday at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Heat vs. Bucks odds and lines, with NBA picks and predictions.
The Heat head into the postseason with wins in five of the past six outings, although that lone loss came May 15 in Milwaukee by a 122-108 count.
Despite that loss and non-cover, they’re still 5-1 ATS in the past six, and 10-4-1 ATS across the past 15 games overall.
The Bucks dropped their regular-season finale in Chicago by a 118-112 count, and while they won eight of the final 10 straight up, they’re just 1-6 ATS across the past seven outings.
Heat at Bucks: Odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:55 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Heat +165 (bet $100 to win $165) | Bucks -200 (bet $200 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Heat +5 (-110) | Bucks -5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 226.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Heat at Bucks: Key injuries
Heat
- Nothing affecting gambling odds.
Bucks
- Nothing affecting gambling odds.
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Heat at Bucks: Odds, lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Heat 118, Bucks 114
Money line (ML)
The HEAT (+165) were able to trip up the Bucks (-200) last season, winning in five games during the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
While Miami has taken a step back this season, especially with its guard play, they still finished up strong and will be a hard out as long as Jimmy Butler is healthy.
They’ll get off on the right foot in Game 1 before the Bucks tighten up and roll the rest of the series.
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Against the spread (ATS)
The HEAT +5 (-110) are a good play with the points if you’re not feeling them straight up. The Bucks -5 (-110) did go 2-1 SU/ATS in three regular-season meetings with the Heat.
However, Miami has rolled down the stretch and in the past month, it has looked more like the team that made the NBA Finals.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 226.5 (-110) is the way to go. Miami has hit the Over in six of the past seven on the road, and 11 of the previous 13 overall.
The Over hit in five of the final seven for Milwaukee, while cashing in five of the past seven as a favorite, too.
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