After a competitive Play-In Tournament game between the Bulls and Heat, the Eastern Conference playoff bracket has been finalized.
Miami defeated Chicago on Friday night, setting the stage for a first-round battle against Milwaukee. The Bucks will enter the postseason as the top overall seed after finishing with a 58-24 record in the regular season, so the Heat will have their work cut out for them.
Is there any chance of an upset in this No. 1 vs. No. 8 matchup? Let's break down the first-round series.
MORE: Ranking the NBA's best 30 players entering the playoffs
Bucks vs. Heat 2022-23 regular season series
- Jan. 12, 2023: Heat 108, Bucks 102
- Jan. 14, 2023: Heat 111, Bucks 95
- Feb. 4, 2023: Bucks 123, Heat 115
- Feb. 24, 2023: Bucks 128, Heat 99
The Bucks and Heat split their regular season series. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton missed the first two matchups. Antetokounmpo also suffered an injury in the Feb. 24 victory, leaving the game after only six minutes of action.
Bucks vs. Heat key storyline: How will Miami score?
Friday's Play-In contest was an absolute grind. The Heat were able to escape with a win, but they shot just 41 percent from the field. That game wasn't an isolated incident, as Miami finished as a bottom-10 offensive team in the regular season.
Now, the Heat will face one of the NBA's most elite defensive units. Jrue Holiday and Jevon Carter constantly pressure ball handlers. Antetokounmpo is always lurking like an apex predator. Oh, and by the way, Brook Lopez is a Defensive Player of the Year finalist.
Denied by Brook.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) February 5, 2023
Giannis with the finish!! pic.twitter.com/4vN3FJfwdr
"We have to be the best defensive team — and if not the best, one of the best," Antetokounmpo said last month. "The year we won [the championship] and when we have been at our best is when we defend. If we try to trade baskets with them, this league is so talented. You can't trade baskets. We have to defend.
"We have people that can move their feet. We have people that can block shots. We have people that can take that individual pride and keep guys in front. ... Some days we're not going to score the ball. We gotta know our defense is always going to be there, that we can rely on it all the time. And sometimes, from that, we can build on offense."
Yes, trying to slow down Antetokounmpo is a problem for every team in the league, but the bigger issue for Miami is how it will be able to scrape together enough points to stay competitive.
Bucks vs. Heat schedule, TV channels
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| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| April 16 | Game 1 | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| April 19 | Game 2 | 9 p.m. | NBA TV |
| April 22 | Game 3 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| April 24 | Game 4 | TBD | TBD |
| April 26 | Game 5* | TBD | TBD |
| April 28 | Game 6* | TBD | TBD |
| April 30 | Game 7* | TBD | TBD |
*If necessary
Bucks vs. Heat odds
Bucks: -1000
Heat: +650
(Odds provided by DraftKings)
Bucks vs. Heat prediction
As much fun as it would be to stray from the crowd and pick the underdog here, it's difficult to envision a scenario in which the Bucks have trouble eliminating the Heat.
Milwaukee has the best player in the series and a deep, talented roster. That's just too much for Miami to overcome.
