Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks NBA Picks & Predictions 1/17/2018

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

BMO Harris Bradley Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Miami Heat travel to BMO Harris Bradley Center to play the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Milwaukee as 4.5 point favorites.

The Heat come into this game with an overall record of 25-18. They are 1st in the Southeast Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.7 as they are averaging 101.1 points per game while giving up 101.8 per contest. The Bucks have an overall mark of 23-20. They currently are 3rd in the Central Division. They are averaging 105.0 points per contest and giving up 105.9, which is a point differential of -0.9.

Valuable Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 19-22-2 against the spread

The Miami Heat are 17-24-2 against the over/under

Important Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 18-20-5 against the spread

The Milwaukee Bucks are 24-18-1 against the over/under

Key Miami Heat Injuries

01/16/18 G Tyler Johnson Ankle is "?" Wednesday vs Milwaukee
01/12/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out for season

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

11/21/17 F Mirza Teletovic Lung is out indefinitely
01/13/18 F Jabari Parker Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside averages 13.8 points per game in 25.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 0.6 assists per contest and 11.6 rebounds per game for Miami. His field goal percentage is 55% for the year while his free throw percentage is 73%. Goran Dragic comes into this contest averaging 17.3 points per game while playing 32.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Heat. He pulls down 4.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is currently at 77%.

Player Spotlight

Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 28.3 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 37.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.1 rebounds per contest and 4.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 78%. Khris Middleton averages 19.9 points per game while playing 37.1 minutes per contest this year for the Bucks. He grabs 5 rebounds per game and has 4.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage currently is at 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat allow 101.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 11th and 18th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42 rebounds a game which ranks 8th, and they give up 20 assists per contest which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 13.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the league. Miami averages 101.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.74 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 15th. Behind the arc they shoot 37% which is good for 13th in the league. They average 41.8 rebounds per game and 21.6 assists per game, which ranks them 22nd and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 12th with 15 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bucks surrender 105.9 points per contest, which ranks them 16th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from 3-point range, ranking them 24th and 28th in those defensive statistics. They rank 13th with 22.4 assists allowed per contest, and 5th with 41.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Bucks are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.4 per game this season. Milwaukee is 17th in the league with 105 points per game this year. They are 4th in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is -0.86. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 27th in the NBA. They are 30th in the league in rebounding with 38.7 boards per game and 18th in assists per contest with 22.4. The Bucks are 26th in turnovers per game with 13.7.

Advanced Statistics

The Heat are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 106.8, and their offensive rating of 106 is ranked 21st. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 94.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 8th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. Miami is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Milwaukee is 22nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 7th in the NBA. The Bucks are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 110.2, and their offensive rating of 109.3 is ranked 7th. They are 22nd in the NBA in pace with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 7th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 23rd in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Heat/Bucks NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Miami +4.5

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