Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton scored 22 points – 20 more than Dwyane Wade – in the Bucks’ 91-79 victory over Miami on Tuesday at AmericanAirlines Arena. Jrue Holiday had 19 points and seven assists and Tyreke Evans added 13 points and five assists for the Pelicans.
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The Wizards (20-21) were propelled by guards John Wall (18 points, 10 assists) and Bradley Beal (18 points). The Heat lost to the OKC Thunder in their last outing 99-74, and they were forced to start rookie point guard Justise Winslow as they were without Goran Dragic. Of the eight teams that play tonight in the NBA, Milwaukee is the hottest at the betting window.
The Milwaukee Bucks swept the four-game series with Miami last season and look to continue the success when they visit the Heat on Tuesday.
Miami has used five different starting lineups in its last five, with some instance of a new malady popping up about every day on this just-completed trip. The offense struggled mightily without them, as Miami shot a season-low 36.5 percent and failed to reach 80 points for the second straight game. Their only win recently has been against Denver, a game in which Wade didn’t play. “They stepped up their pressure, we turned the ball over and didn’t get the type of shots we wanted”. That leaves Washington as one of three Eastern Conference teams – along with woeful Brooklyn and Philadelphia – with a losing record at home.
Wade was able to find success with his mid-range game as he scored 18 to keep the Heat within two points of the Thunder at halftime. They were leaving on a flight to Washington shortly after Tuesday’s game, while the Bucks were staying behind for one last night in Miami. As for Miami, the Heat are 10-11-1 against the spread as a home favorite this season and are 0-4 ATS in their last four games versus the Bucks.
“I don’t like it”, Wade said of playing the point. “They trust me to try to make the right play for the team”.
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In just his second game back from injury, Jerryd Bayless (11 points) made his presence felt with two threes in the first four minutes of the second quarter that helped the Bucks get it going in the quarter.
