Milwaukee Bucks vs. Miami Heat: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More
While most American sports fans are tuned into the NFL's conference championship games on Sunday evening, die-hard NBA fans will be watching the Milwaukee Bucks (5-9) face off against the Miami Heat (11-4) in South Beach.
The Heat will be wearing their throwback Floridians jerseys again Sunday night, in honor of the defunct ABA franchise that used to call Miami home in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Where: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami, FL
When: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 6:00 PM ET
Watch: Sun Sports or stream live with NBA League Pass
Listen: Milwaukee: WTMJ 620 AM, Miami: WAXY 790 AM
Betting Line
Heat -9 over Bucks, according to covers.com. The Miami Heat have been amazing without Dwyane Wade in the lineup this season. They are 6-0 already without No. 3 in uniform, and they should remain undefeated with a convincing win on Sunday night over Milwaukee.
Over/Under: 194.5, according to covers.com. Neither team is particularly stout defensively, but the Heat have a significant offensive edge as the highest-scoring team in the league, with LeBron James and Chris Bosh combining for 50-plus points per game.
Key Injuries
Milwaukee: No significant injuries.
Miami: Dwyane Wade (ankle), day-to-day, missed the last three games, according to ESPN.com.
What's At Stake?
The Miami Heat could make up some more ground on the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings with another win on Sunday night, running their home record to a dominant 7-1 through eight games.
Meanwhile, the Bucks could leap the New York Knicks for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Milwaukee won their first road game of the season on Friday night against NY, so a victory over Miami would have them streaking on away from home.
What They're Saying
Heat superstar Chris Bosh has stepped up his game following the lockout. In 15 games this season, Bosh is averaging 20.3 PPG and 8.0 RPG. He is also shooting a career best 52.4 percent from the field. Said Bosch:
"Championship is on our mind and in order to do that, we're going to have to beat the best teams...we believe in our offense, we feel that when we move the ball, when we get stops first and then we're out in the open court in transition and being aggressive, we feel that we cannot be stopped.
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NBA reporter Alex Kennedy made the key to the Heat's Saturday night win over the 76ers very clear: a whole lot of LeBron James and Chris Bosh in the absence of Dwyane Wade.
Bucks Player to Watch
Brandon Jennings: The Bucks' point guard has played in all 14 regular season games for Milwaukee thus far and is averaging a team-high 19.9 PPG to go along with 5.1 APG. Jennings is shooting better than 46 percent from the field this year and connecting on more than two 3-pointers per night.
Heat Player to Watch
Chris Bosh: Bosh is in the midst of a career year with the Heat this season from an efficiency standpoint. Bosh is shooting lights out from the field while logging big minutes and maintaining somewhat of a presence in the paint for the Dwyane Wade-less Heat.
Key Matchup
Bucks' offense vs. Heat's defense: Sounds like an obvious key matchup until we learn that the Heat's last three victims have all failed to score 100 points. Miami's last loss over a week ago was to a Denver Nuggets team that dropped 117 on the defending Eastern Conference champions. Milwaukee is averaging a little over 92 PPG as a team this season, so expect the Heat to dominate unless the Bucks experience an eye-popping night on offense.
Prediction
The Bucks have flat out struggled to score this year, but the same cannot be said of the league's best offensive team, the Miami Heat. Miami is averaging 107 PPG this season and has been rolling without Dwyane Wade in the lineup. They will win easily at home Sunday night to take their fourth straight overall.
Heat 111, Bucks 89
