Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat NBA Picks & Predictions 12/22/2018

Saturday, December 22, 2018

American Airlines Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Milwaukee Bucks head to American Airlines Arena to take on the Miami Heat on Saturday, December 22, 2018. The opening line for this game has Milwaukee as 4.5 point favorites.

The Bucks have a record of 21-9. They are 1st in the Central Division. They have a point differential of 8.8 as they average 117.8 points per game while giving up 109.0 per contest. The Heat have an overall mark of 14-16. They currently are 3rd in the Southeast Division. They total 106.6 points per contest and give up 107.4, which is a point differential of -0.8.

Valuable Milwaukee Bucks Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Bucks are 15-14-1 against the spread this season

The Milwaukee Bucks are 16-14-0 against the over/under this year

Important Miami Heat Betting Trends

The Miami Heat are 16-14-0 against the spread this season

The Miami Heat are 15-14-0 against the over/under this year

Key Milwaukee Bucks Injuries

12/20/18 F Ersan Ilyasova Nose is downgraded to out Friday vs Boston

Key Miami Heat Injuries

12/20/18 SF Justise Winslow Ankle is questionable Saturday vs Milwaukee
12/19/18 PG Goran Dragic Knee is out indefinitely
10/11/18 G Dion Waiters Ankle is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Khris Middleton averages 17.4 points per contest in 31.1 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.9 assists per game and 5.8 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% for the season while his free throw percentage is 87%. Giannis Antetokounmpo comes into this game averaging 26.7 points per contest while playing 33.9 minutes per night. He grabs 12.9 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.1 assists per game. His FG percentage is 59% while his free throw percentage is 70%.

Player Spotlight

Hassan Whiteside averages 13.2 points per game and he sees the court an average of 26.4 minutes per game. He also hauls in 13.5 rebounds per game and dishes 0.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 53% and his free throw percentage is 46%. Josh Richardson scores 18.7 points per contest while playing 34.8 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.9 rebounds per contest and has 3.6 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bucks allow 109.0 points per contest which is 11th in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 22nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.0 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they allow 24.5 assists per game which puts them in 20th place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the NBA. Milwaukee averages 117.8 points per contest, which is 1st in the league. Their average scoring margin is 8.8 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 6th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 16th in the NBA. They average 49.8 boards per contest and 26.5 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 14th with 14.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Heat give up 107.4 points per game, which ranks them 8th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 4th and 23rd in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 22.0 dimes allowed per game and 18th with 45.3 boards surrendered per contest. The Heat are 10th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.6 per contest. Miami is 23rd in the NBA with 106.6 points per contest this season. They are 30th in the league in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -0.8. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 12th in the league. They are 4th in the NBA in rebounding with 48.0 boards per contest and 23rd in assists per game with 22.6. The Heat are 9th in turnovers per contest with 14.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Bucks are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 114.1, and their defensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 102.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 55% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 44% of their shots, ranking 2nd in the league. Milwaukee is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 22nd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Miami is 10th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 24th in the NBA. The Heat are 24th in the league in defensive rating with 108.1, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 9th. They are 21st in the NBA in pace with 99 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% is 27th. As a unit they are 30th in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Milwaukee -4.5 and over 216.5 total points

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