NBA Best Bets for Bucks at Heat on January 14th

NBA BEST BETS FOR BUCKS AT HEAT ON JANUARY 14th - One of the marquee matchups from Saturday’s slate of games features a pair of conference foes as the Bucks take on the Heat.

We will begin our matchup discussion by looking at the Bucks first. Milwaukee split its last 10 contests. This includes a 108-102 loss to Heat just two days ago. Despite their mediocre play as of late, the Bucks are 27-15 and have the third-best record in the conference.

Meanwhile, although Miami emerged victorious when these two teams faced off earlier this week, the team is just three games above .500 (23-20) and is currently locked in at the No. 8 spot. With the first half of the season in the rearview, the Heat are hoping to turn things around during the second half, and that process begins against a Bucks squad hoping to even the score.

Does Giannis Play?

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the engine that makes this Bucks team go. He is averaging a career-best 31 points per contest, along with 11.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

In addition to being the league’s top defender and most valuable player twice, he also has a Finals MVP on his resume as well. And as he continues to improve his mid-range game, Antetokounmpo is a difficult cover for any opposing defense.

The caveat here is his status remains day-to-day, and if he is not able to suit up, that gives Miami the edge.

The Jimmy Butler Factor

On the other side of the court, Jimmy Butler is the first name that comes to mind when you think about the Miami Heat.

On the season, Butler has compiled averages of 21.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per outing. This marks the eighth time that Butler is averaging 20-plus points per game during his 13-year NBA career. And he has reached the 20-point threshold in 4 of his previous five outings.

In the previous meetings between these two teams, Butler did not shoot the ball particularly well (5-for-13 from the field and 0-for-2 from 3-point range), but he did finish with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Pick

The Heat are allowing 108.8 points per contest. This is the second-best average in the league. Milwaukee also has the fifth-best defensive rating, yielding 111.3 points per 100 possessions.

The Bucks have the sixth-best scoring defense in the association as they are allowing 110.9 points per outing. Milwaukee also boasts the second-best defensive rating in the league, giving up 110.5 points per 100 possessions. Simply put if defense is your cup of tea, then this matchup is must-see TV.

In a matchup featuring two defensive-minded teams, points will not be easy to come by.

Even without involving the odds, I would pick the Heat to win. But given that they are just a one-point favorite, I like the Heat’s chances of winning while covering the one-point spread.

NBA Best Bets for Bucks at Heat on January 14th