GAME PREVIEW: Heat clash against Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks

The Miami Heat looks to bounce back after Thursday’s buzzer-beating loss to the Memphis Grizzlies with a clash against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Miami’s six-game win streak was snapped Thursday, losing 110-108 despite another spectacular performance from Tyler Herro, who’s playing his basketball of the season. The first-time All-Star finished with a game-high 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting–including 4-of-7 from deep–adding nine rebounds, four assists and one block.

Over his last seven games, Herro is averaging 28.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists on 56.9 percent shooting, including 48.8 percent from 3-point range and 95.3 percent from the free-throw line.

The Bucks are 6-6 over their last 12, but will (likely) be without Damian Lillard for the remainder of the 2024-25 season after there was a bloodclot found in his right calf. Giannis Antetokounmpo put together a historical stat line in the Bucks’ most recent win over the tanking Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 35 points with 17 rebounds and 20 assists on 12-of-19 shooting. Those are superhuman numbers, point blank.

Miami will have a tall task trying to slow him down Saturday. Bam Adebayo has, historically, fared well against the Greek Freak, but he did have 23 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists on 11-of-18 shooting in his most recent meeting against the Heat, which was a 120-113 Bucks win on Feb. 23.

Can the Heat get back on track? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Injury Report (at the time of this publishing):

Miami Heat:

• Tyler Herro (thigh) — QUESTIONABLE 
• Haywood Highsmith (achilles) — QUESTIONABLE
• Nikola Jovic (hand) — OUT 
• Kevin Love (personal) — OUT 
• Dru Smith (achilles) — OUT 
• Andrew Wiggins (hamstring) — OUT 

Milwaukee Bucks:

• Giannis Antetokounmpo (foot) — PROBABLE
• AJ Green (AC Joint) — PROBABLE
• Damian Lillard (bloodclot) — OUT 
• Bobby Portis (suspension) — OUT 
• Jericho Sims (thumb) — OUT 

Projected Starting 5 (subject to change):

Miami Heat:

• Tyler Herro, G
• Alec Burks, G
• Pelle Larsson, F
• Bam Adebayo, F/C
• Kel’el Ware, C

Milwaukee Bucks:

• Ryan Rollins, G
• Taurean Prince, F
• Kyle Kuzma, F
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, F
• Brook Lopez, C

Broadcast Info:

• Tipoff: 8:00 PM EST
• TV: TNT, truTV & Max
• Radio: AM 560 Sports WQAM & The HEAT Radio Network (Jason Jackson)
• Spanish Radio: WAQI 710 AM & The HEAT Spanish Radio Network (José Pañeda)

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