NBA
Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Sunday 23rd February 2025 Start time: 5:00 pm local time (11 pm BST) Venue: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Last meeting: October 28th 2024, Milwaukee Bucks 125-96 Miami Heat The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat for this Eastern Conference battle on Sunday night.
Giannis Antetokounmpo//Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat for this Eastern Conference battle on Sunday night. The Bucks sit as the fifth seed, whereas the Heat are the ninth seed, but both teams have the same record from their last ten games, winning on four occasions. It could be argued that the Heat need the win more due to their current place in the classification charts. Who will prevail?
SportsBoom has produced an extensive preview for this fixture ahead of time, detailing crucial information surrounding both franchises. We will discuss both teams’ seasons thus far, highlighting key players on both rosters and how both teams have fared against each other. We will make an informed prediction after sharing our value bets.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
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Milwaukee Bucks: 8/13 (1.62) - 61.73%
Miami Heat: 13/8 (2.63) - 38.02%
Forecast odds – Betting available on Stake closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
The Milwaukee Bucks are in impressive form in the recent head-to-head charts, winning four of their last five games. In addition, they have won six of their last seven games, indicating that the team could be a huge favourite to continue this streak. The Bucks have won the two games this season, producing the goods in the most recent fixture on January 23rd.
Overall, though, this fixture has seen 131 regular-season games. The recent form displayed by the Bucks boosts their total win count to 55, but the Miami Heat have produced the most with 76 overall wins.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/25 Season | January 23, 2025 | Milwaukee Bucks 125-96 Miami Heat |
| 2024/25 Season | November 26, 2024 | Milwaukee Bucks 106-103 Miami Heat |
| 2023/24 Season | February 13, 2024 | Miami Heat 123-97 Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2023/24 Season | November 28, 2023 | Milwaukee Bucks 131-124 Miami Heat |
| 2023/24 Season | October 30, 2023 | Milwaukee Bucks 122-114 Miami Heat |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Miami Heat
- Record: 25-28
- Home Form: 12-11
- Road Form: 12-17
At the time of writing, the Miami Heat have lost four games in a row. The organization sit ninth in the Eastern Conference and is still in play-in contention, though, their poor form doesn’t help their chances. The franchise is still within touching distance of the playoffs but need better results to reach there. Since trading franchise star Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors, the team have yet to post a win.
Bam Adebayo has played in every game this season, barring two games, showcasing his importance defensively. For yet another season, he is posting double figures in rebounds, averaging 10.1 for the season. Adebayo’s sole downside is a slight reduction in points per game, as he averages 16.7 for the season. He averaged over 19 points in his last three seasons.
After being selected to appear as an NBA All-Star for the first time this season, 24-year-old Tyler Herro is playing the best basketball of his career at the moment. He is posting an average of 23.9 points per game, defying his best numbers from yesteryear. While Herro is playing like this offensively, he has raised the bar in assisting his teammates and rebounding, too, averaging 5.5 per game in both areas.
Milwaukee Bucks
- Record: 29-24
- Home Form: 17-9
- Road Form: 11-15
The Milwaukee Bucks are still right in the middle of a playoff scrap after a very difficult start to the season. The organization managed to turn it around and is equidistant in games in front of and behind the fourth and sixth seeds, respectively. The Bucks are one of three teams to post a single-digit number of losses in the East, with only the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers having fewer losses.
The organization leader in points per game and rebounds is, of course, their most valuable player, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 30-year-old is one of the best players in the league and is averaging a spectacular 31.8 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, which places him in the top five in the league. He is posting the best numbers of his career on both sides of the court.
Antetokounmpo isn’t the organization’s only superstar, as Damian Lillard is propping up his best numbers since joining the franchise in 2023. Lillard is averaging 25.8 points per game, which isn’t quite on the level of his prime but still impressive numbers when a roster has multiple superstars. He is averaging 7.5 assists per game, his best season in this department since the 2019/20 season.
Value Bets
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Over 25 Points and Over 10 Rebounds: Giannis Antetokounmpo always pulls off an impressive performance against the Miami Heat, as he has produced 25.1 points and 10.9 rebounds from his last ten matches. This season, he matched his average in points and raised the bar in total rebounds, accumulating 12. Providing that the 30-year-old is healthy and eligible to play, we predict him to complete yet another double-double.
Tyler Herro, Over 15 Points: It’s no secret that Tyler Herro has raised the bar this season, and the 24-year-old is an important figure for the Heat in their quest to get an important win. He has an average of 19.5 points per game, in addition to 5.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists, therefore, it’s safe to predict he could make a big impact in this game.
Prediction: Milwaukee Bucks to win
Despite displaying below .500 form from their last ten games, SportsBoom selects the Milwaukee Bucks as the eventual winners of this fixture. The Bucks aren’t in the best of form, but their past winning record, especially in recent times, shows them as a favourite for this match. It looks unlikely that the Heat will be able to stop the rot, having lost two games to Milwaukee this season.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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