Bucks vs Heat Game 3 Betting Preview: Down 2-0, Miami is in Desperation Mode As a Home Underdog After Game 2 Blowout

Tonight is a make or break night for the Bucks vs Heat series. If the Bucks take a 3-0 lead, the series would appear to be all but over. But if the Heat can take Game 3, the series will still very much be up for grabs.

After needing overtime to determine game one, the Bucks needed barely 12 minutes to get game two. At the end of the first quarter, they were up 26 points and cruised from there. It was no shock that they got the home win, but I don’t think anybody saw this one playing out as it did. Now Miami is on the brink of getting bounced early from the playoffs after making it to the NBA Finals last season. Is desperation enough to get them back in the series? They are home underdogs tonight. During the regular season, they were 3-4 SU & ATS as a home dog.

Milwaukee Bucks (2-0) vs. Miami Heat (0-2), TNT, 7:30 PM ET

Bucks vs Heat Series Schedule and Results

• Saturday, May 22 | Game 1 (at Milwaukee): Bucks 109-107 Heat (OT)
• Monday, May 24 | Game 2 (at Milwaukee): Bucks 132-98 Heat
• Thursday, May 27 | Game 3 (at Miami): Bucks vs Heat, 7:30 ET, TNT
• Saturday, May 29 | Game 4 (at Miami): Bucks vs Heat, 1:30 ET, TNT
• Tuesday, June 1 | Game 5 (at Milwaukee): Heat vs Bucks, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
• Thursday, June 3 | Game 6 (at Miami): Bucks vs Heat, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
• Saturday, June 5 | Game 7 (at Milwaukee): Heat vs Bucks, TBD, TBD (if necessary)

Bucks vs Heat Series Odds

Odds to Win Series

• Milwaukee Bucks: -1200
• Miami Heat: +680

Series Spread

• Milwaukee Bucks -2.5 (-140)
• Miami Heat +2.5 (+114)

Series Correct Score Odds

• Heat 4-2 +1800
• 4-3 Heat +1000
• Bucks 4-0 +200
• 4-1 Bucks +170
• Bucks 4-2 +500
• 4-3 Bucks +600

Bucks vs Heat Game 3 Betting Odds

• Spread: Bucks -1.5 (-110), Heat +1.5 (-110)
• Total: OVER 224 (-106), UNDER 224.5 (-114)
• Moneyline: Bucks -122, Heat +104

Bucks vs Heat odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of Thursday, May 27 at 5:40 pm ET. For more NBA betting odds, check out our NBA odds page. It features updated odds from BetOnline and other top online sportsbooks.

Bucks Looked Great in Game 2 Rout

After beating the Bucks in the playoffs a year ago and forcing overtime in Game 1, it looked like Miami was going to be a foil for the Bucks once again. After watching Game 2, it is hard to see how that happens.

Milwaukee looked fantastic in Game 2 with Giannis leading the way with 31 points and 13 rebounds. The Bucks pounced on Miami early and extended the lead in every quarter. The game was so far out of reach that it didn’t even matter that Giannis bared his weakness, making just one of seven three-pointers.

Jrue Holiday really showed his worth with a whopping +37 for the game to lead the team. He only scored 11 points but chipped in 15 assists. I love the versatility of his game, and I am sure the Bucks do too. He is pretty unflappable too, especially for a guy without a ton of playoff experience.

Milwaukee has not been great as a road favorite this season, but they are the consensus play tonight. The number is moving though, so don’t wait on it.

Does Miami Still Have Championship Mettle?

When you lose by more than 30 points in a playoff game you try and find some little wins. The only thing that stands out from the loss is that Dewayne Dedmon, their backup center, led the team with 19 points and 19 rebounds. I am not sure what they do with that moving forward though.

The guys they need to play well, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, were pretty much no-shows. Butler was a team-worst -34, so having him out there was not of much value in the loss.

Butler is one of the best leaders in the NBA, so you can bet the result from game two did not sit well. At the very least I expect him to have his best game of the series, even if the team is not able to back him up.

Erik Spoelstra is one of the best coaches in the NBA, and this is a spot for him to prove it. Not only does he have to get his team better schematically, he has to get the emotions up too. Last year they refused to lose; they have to find that mindset again.

Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat Matchup: Picks, Odds, Stats and More