Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat square off in the fifth game of the Conference Semifinal series in the American Basketball League 2019-20.
Match Timing: September 9, 2020 (4 AM IST)
Team Preview
Milwaukee Bucks made a much-needed comeback in the fourth game to avoid the elimination for yet another match. The Southeast Division Champions, who came after a four-game sweep over Indiana Pacers in the Playoff series, took away the first three games in the semifinal series to take the lead of 3-0. In Game-04, Heat led by 9 points in the first quarter but Bucks came hard with taking the 2nd quarter 17-28 to lead by 2 points at the half-game. Miami didn’t stop and overcame the lead by taking 3rd quarter 40-35 and going into the final quarter, the Bucks were trailing 3 points behind to Heat. To escape the defeat, the Bucks required a top game in the last quarter and Middleton helped to overcome the 3-point difference. The match went to overtime and the Bucks draw the first blood in the series with a 115-118 victory.
Middleton paced Bucks with scoring 36 points plus 8 boards while Giannis Antetokounmpo netted 19 points from 11 minutes coming off the bench. Eric Bledsoe scored a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. For Miami, Bam Adebayo scored a double-double with 26 points plus 12 boards while Duncan Robinson contributed 20 points plus five boards. Bucks had a better field goal percent with 48.9, including 11 out of 35 from 3-points range while Miami shot 44.4 percent from the floor, including 17 out of 47 from beyond the arc. Bucks also dominated the offensive rebounds 41-46.
The heat comes fourth in the league in scoring defense as they allow 104.9 points per contest. Bucks stands second in rebounding with 47.3 boards per contest and placed fifth in the league in field goals by shooting 47.2 % from the floor. The Bucks might come back strong to square the series. Bucks needs more from Antetokounmpo who played for just 11 minutes in the last game and Buttler had an off-day for Heat with just 17 points. To draw one more win in the series, Middleton’s performance will be a key for Bucks.
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)
Key Players
Milwaukee Bucks
Khris Middleton (SF): 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6 assists
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF): 26.7 points, 13.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists
Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo (C): 16.6 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists
Jimmy Butler (SG/SF): 22.4 points, five rebounds, 4 assists
