Game 3 of the first-round series in the 2023 NBA playoffs between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat will get underway on Saturday evening with the series tied 1-1. Milwaukee went 58-24 on the season and locked down the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks also owned a 26-15 road record. Meanwhile, Miami was 44-38 and secured the No. 8 seed. The Heat play very well at home and logged a 27-14 record at the Kaseya Center this season. Tyler Herro (hand) is out for Miami. Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) is listed as questionable for Milwaukee.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Kaseya Center in Miami. Caesars Sportsbook lists Milwaukee as the 5-point favorite in the latest Bucks vs. Heat odds. The over/under for total points is set at 220. Before making any Heat vs. Bucks picks, you need to see the NBA playoff predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's advanced computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past four-plus seasons. The model enters the second week of the 2023 NBA playoffs a stunning 71-37 on all top-rated NBA picks this season, returning nearly $3,000. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Heat vs. Bucks and just locked in its picks and NBA playoff predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Bucks vs. Heat:
- Heat vs. Bucks spread: Bucks -5
- Heat vs. Bucks over/under: 220 points
- Heat vs. Bucks money line: Heat +162, Bucks -195
- MIA: 14-25-4 ATS at home this season
- MIL: 19-17-5 ATS on road this season
- Heat vs. Bucks picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Bucks can cover
Milwaukee's squad is extremely deep and has scorers spread out across the floor. In the Game 2 victory, this group had seven players score in double figures while knocking down 25 3-pointers. Center Brook Lopez is a floor spacing two-way big down low. Lopez has long arms that allow him to snag boards and alter shots consistently. In his last outing, he dropped a team-high 25 points with four boards.
Forward Bobby Portis is a tough and relentless force in the frontcourt. Portis constantly hustles and plays the game in extra gear. Through two games, the Arkansas product leads the team in rebounds (11.5) and is averaging 17 points per game. On Wednesday, Portis supplied a double-double of 13 points and 15 boards. See which side to back at SportsLine.
Why the Heat can cover
Guard Gabe Vincent has a versatile offensive game and is able to score from multiple spots on the court. Vincent uses his reliable jumper to space the floor while shooting off the dribble with ease. The UCSB product is averaging 15.5 points, 4.5 assists and shoots 57% from beyond the arc. On Wednesday, Vincent dropped 16 points, three assists and went 4-of-9 from downtown.
Forward Caleb Martin is an energetic swingman off the bench. Martin also has a smooth jump shot and thrives in transition. The Nevada product logs 15 points, two boards and three assists through two games. In Game 1, Martin dropped 15 points, three boards and knocked down two 3-pointers. He's also shooting 57% from 3-point land. See which side to back at SportsLine.
How to make Bucks vs. Heat picks
SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the point total, projecting the teams to combine for 219 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in over 50% of simulations. You can see the model's pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Heat vs. Bucks? And which side of the spread hits over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is 71-37 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
