It’s becoming a common occurrence to see the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks go head-to-head in the playoffs. The teams will face each other in the postseason for the third time in the last four years when their first round series tips off in Milwaukee on Sunday night.

The Bucks are 9.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds, with the total sitting at 219.0.

Heat vs. Bucks NBA Playoffs Betting Odds

Home court advantage has been huge in this head-to-head series over the last few years, with the home team winning eight straight games. The teams split four meetings this season. Milwaukee swept the Heat in the first round of the 2021 playoffs en route to their first NBA championship since 1971. The teams also met in 2020, with Miami coming out on top before falling to the L.A. Lakers in the NBA Finals.

The Heat have been playing some high scoring contests down the stretch, hitting the Over in five of their last seven games. They’ve struggled to cover, however, going 1-4 against the spread in their last five. Miami is a long shot to do much damage in the playoffs as they sit +6580 to win the Eastern Conference and +16,300 to win an NBA title.

Milwaukee’s strong offence has seen the total go Over in six of their last eight games. Covering has been a different story, as they are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine games. The Bucks are favoured to win the East at +106 and favoured to win the NBA championship at +200.

One important note about the season series between these teams. Both of Miami’s victories came against a Bucks squad playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo in the lineup.

Miami Heat

The Heat gutted out a tough play-in victory against Chicago on Friday. Jimmy Butler and Max Strus each put up 31 points in a 102-91 come-from-behind win. Butler will need to be clutch if Miami has a shot at a massive upset in this series. The 33-year-old averages team-highs in points per game (22.9), assists (5.3) and steals (1.8).

The Heat finished the regular season with the second-best defence in the NBA, allowing an average of just 109.8 points per game. The issue for Miami is, they ranked dead last in scoring, averaging 109.5 points scored per game. Along with Butler and Strus (11.5 ppg), the offence will rely heavily on Bam Adebayo, who averaged 20.4 ppg, and Tyler Herro, who averaged 20.1 ppg.

As far as injuries, Nikola Jovic (back) has been ruled out, while Kyle Lowry (knee) and Gabe Vincent (hip) are both listed as questionable.

Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee dominated the regular season with a 58-24 record to earn the top overall seed in the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was recently named an MVP finalist, once again led the way for the Bucks this year. Antetokounmpo ranked fifth in the NBA with 31.1 ppg and also led Milwaukee with 11.8 rebounds.

The Bucks finished the regular season with the eighth-best offence in the NBA, averaging 116.9 ppg. Milwaukee was the best rebounding team in the NBA, with a league-high 48.6 rpg. Defensive Player of the Year Finalist Brook Lopez was tied for second in the league with 2.5 blocks per game. Jrue Holiday (19.3 ppg), Khris Middleton (15.1 ppg) and Bobby Portis (14.1 ppg) round out the core of this team.

The Bucks have no reported injuries heading into Game 1.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Heat vs. Bucks?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Heat Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 22.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.31
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.17
FG%	Cody Zeller 62.7
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.83
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.81

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.1
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.39
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.78
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.18
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.47

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 26.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.86
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.87
FG%	Haywood Highsmith 61.5
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.82
Blocks	Tyler Herro 1

MIL

Points	Khris Middleton 23.8
Assists	Jrue Holiday 8
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11
FG%	MarJon Beauchamp 66.7
Steals	Brook Lopez 1.4
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.8

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Bucks Team Leaders

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 22.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.31
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.17
FG%	Cody Zeller 62.7
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.83
Blocks	Bam Adebayo 0.81

MIL

Points	Giannis Antetokounmpo 31.1
Assists	Jrue Holiday 7.39
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11.78
FG%	Giannis Antetokounmpo 55.3
Steals	Jrue Holiday 1.18
Blocks	Brook Lopez 2.47

MIA

Points	Jimmy Butler 26.91
Assists	Jimmy Butler 5.86
Rebounds	Bam Adebayo 9.87
FG%	Haywood Highsmith 61.5
Steals	Jimmy Butler 1.82
Blocks	Tyler Herro 1

MIL

Points	Khris Middleton 23.8
Assists	Jrue Holiday 8
Rebounds	Giannis Antetokounmpo 11
FG%	MarJon Beauchamp 66.7
Steals	Brook Lopez 1.4
Blocks	Brook Lopez 1.8

Injuries

Miami

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Wed Foot - 06 / 06 / 23

Caleb Martin (SF)

Prob Sun Illness - 03 / 06 / 23

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Sun Foot - 03 / 06 / 23

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Mon Ankle - 28 / 05 / 23

Gabe Vincent (SG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 24 / 05 / 23

Kevin Love (PF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 21 / 05 / 23

Omer Yurtseven (C)

Ques Fri Nose - 18 / 05 / 23

Cody Zeller (PF)

Prob Wed Illness - 15 / 05 / 23

Jimmy Butler (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 11 / 05 / 23

Haywood Highsmith (SF)

Prob Fri Knee - 11 / 05 / 23

Milwaukee

Wesley Matthews (SG)

Prob Wed Calf - 18 / 04 / 23

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Sun Rest - 09 / 04 / 23

AJ Green (PG)

Ques Wed Foot - 07 / 04 / 23

Brook Lopez (C)

Out Fri Rest - 06 / 04 / 23

Pat Connaughton (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 04 / 04 / 23

Grayson Allen (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23

Jevon Carter (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 03 / 04 / 23

Khris Middleton (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 03 / 04 / 23

Grayson Allen (SG)

Ques Tues Ankle - 02 / 04 / 23

Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)

Elig Tues Suspension - 01 / 04 / 23

Injuries

Miami

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Wed	Foot - 06 / 06 / 23	1-2	1-2	+ -
Zeller is tending to a right foot sprain, but it is not expected to impact his status for Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the Nuggets.
Caleb Martin (SF)	Prob Sun	Illness - 03 / 06 / 23	1-3	1-3	+ -
Martin is nursing an illness, but it is not expected to affect his status for Game 2 for the NBA Finals against the Nuggets.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Sun	Foot - 03 / 06 / 23	1-3	1-3	+ -
Zeller is tending to a right foot sprain, but it is projected that he will face the Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA finals.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 28 / 05 / 23	3-4	1-6	+ -
Vincent is nursing a left ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will dress for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics.
Gabe Vincent (SG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 24 / 05 / 23	4-5	2-7	+ -
Vincent is hobbled by a left ankle sprain, and it is undetermined if he will suit up against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Kevin Love (PF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 21 / 05 / 23	5-5	3-7	+ -
Love is nursing an ankle injury, but it is expected that he will partake in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Celtics.
Omer Yurtseven (C)	Ques Fri	Nose - 18 / 05 / 23	6-6	4-8	+ -
Yurtseven is tending to a nasal contusion, and it is uncertain if he will be active for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Cody Zeller (PF)	Prob Wed	Illness - 15 / 05 / 23	6-6	4-8	+ -
Zeller is ailing from an illness, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Celtics.
Jimmy Butler (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 11 / 05 / 23	6-7	5-8	+ -
Butler is dealing with a right ankle sprain, but he is still expected to be in the lineup for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals versus the Knicks.
Haywood Highsmith (SF)	Prob Fri	Knee - 11 / 05 / 23	6-7	5-8	+ -
Highsmith has tendinitis in his left knee, but it is not projected to affect his status ahead of the matchup against the Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Milwaukee

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Wesley Matthews (SG)	Prob Wed	Calf - 18 / 04 / 23	1-3	4-0	+ -
Matthews is dealing with a right calf strain, but it is anticipated that he will suit up against the Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Sun	Rest - 09 / 04 / 23	1-5	6-0	+ -
Lopez will be out of the lineup Sunday against the Raptors as he is taking a rest day.
AJ Green (PG)	Ques Wed	Foot - 07 / 04 / 23	2-5	6-1	+ -
Green is tending to right foot soreness, and it is uncertain if he will partake in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat.
Brook Lopez (C)	Out Fri	Rest - 06 / 04 / 23	2-5	6-1	+ -
Lopez was not be active for Friday's clash with the Grizzlies as he will receive a day of rest.
Pat Connaughton (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 04 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Connaughton is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will take the court against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Grayson Allen (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Allen is nursing a right ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round with the Heat.
Jevon Carter (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Carter missed the previous game with left knee soreness, but it is expected that he will line up for Wednesday's clash versus the Bulls.
Khris Middleton (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 03 / 04 / 23	3-6	7-2	+ -
Middleton is limited due to right knee soreness, but it is anticipated that he will line up against the Heat for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Grayson Allen (SG)	Ques Tues	Ankle - 02 / 04 / 23	3-7	8-2	+ -
Allen exited the previous contest with a right ankle sprain, and it remains to be seen if he will lace up against the Wizards in Tuesday's clash.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (SF)	Elig Tues	Suspension - 01 / 04 / 23	3-7	8-2	+ -
Antetokounmpo is going through a one-game suspension for an on-court incident, and he will be eligible to return against the Wizards on Tuesday.