Milwaukee Bucks will take on Miami Heat in the opening game of the Eastern Conference Semifinal series in the American Basketball League 2019-20.
Match Timing: September 1, 2020 (4 AM IST)
Team Preview
The Miami Heat was clinically terrific as they knocked out Indiana Pacers in the postseason playoff series without dropping a single game. Miami Heat defeated the Pacers 99-87 in the Game 4 to complete the sweep and entered into the Eastern Conference semifinals. Miami are coming off of a week break after knocking Indian out of the playoffs. In game-4, they shot 44 percent from the field, including eight of 30 from beyond the arc and 17 offensive rebounds. In the postseason, Goran Dragic led Heat with scoring 22.8 points per game plus 4 boards. Bam Adebayo netted a double-double with 19 rebounds and 14 points in the last game of the series against the Pacers. The heat has a big task in the semifinal.
Miami Heat faces off Milwaukee Bucks who defeated the Magic 118-104 in game 5 to add a 4-1 victory in the series to claim the semifinal spot. The reigning MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, Giannis Antetokounmpo paced Bucks with scoring 30.6 points per contest in the postseason plus 16 rebounds. The fifth-seeded Miami is the road team against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. In this year’s regular-season games, Miami Heat won two of the three meetings and Bucks added a 130-116 win as the home team in the bubble last month. Both sides had previously met in the playoffs in the 2013 meeting and Miami had the final laugh.
Heat stands at 6th in the league in rebounding with 45.5 boards per contest while stands 2nd in the league in scoring defense as Miami allows 100.8 points per contest. The Road team is placed 5th in three-point shooting by hitting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc and 8th in the league in field goal percentage, shooting 46.4 percent from the floor this season. On the other hand, Milwaukee comes joint-second in rebounding with 50.4 rebounds per contest while standing 2nd in the league by dishing out 27.4 assists per game. One week break might be a relaxing sign for the Heat but momentum is going ahead with the Bucks in game 1 as they have a strong lineup with Antetokounmpo and Middleton. Heat defeated the Pacers who were without the services of Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo.
Possible Starting Lineup
Milwaukee Bucks
Eric Bledsoe (PG), Wesley Matthews (SG), Khris Middleton (SF), Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF), Brook Lopez (C)
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic (PG), Jimmy Butler (SG/SF), Duncan Robinson (SG/SF), Jae Crowder (PF), Bam Adebayo (C)
Team Performance (Postseason)
|
PTS |
FG% |
3PM |
REB |
AST |
|
|
Milwaukee Bucks |
116.2 |
48.2 |
15.8 |
50.4 |
27.4 |
|
Miami Heat |
111.3 |
46.4 |
13 |
45.5 |
24 |
Key Players
Milwaukee Bucks
Khris Middleton (SF): 15 points, 7.8 rebounds
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF): 30.6 points, 16 rebounds
Miami Heat
Goran Dragic (PG): 22.8 points, 4 rebounds
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF): 19.8 points, 5.3 rebounds
