The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat at BMO Harris Bradley Center on Wednesday.
The Heat (22-30) are the hottest team in the NBA right now, as they’ve won 11-straight games. People who follow this team closely knew a run was inevitable though, as all of their early season losses came in devastating fashion. In fact, 27 of the 30 losses this season have come in games decided by 12 points or less. What’s even crazier about this hot stretch is all the injuries Miami has suffered, with Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson currently out of the lineup. It’s been the play of Dion Waiters, Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside that have really carried this team, as all three players are having career years. The bench is the most underrated aspect of this team though, with Tyler Johnson and James Johnson forming one of the best bench duos in the league.
The Bucks (22-28) come into this matchup losing 10 of their last 12 games, but reinforcements are on the way. Khris Middleton is expected to return for this matchup against the Heat, as it’ll mark his season debut after missing multiple months due to a hamstring tear. He’s the third weapon that this team has desperately been missing, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker having too much of the load on their young shoulders. While many don’t know the exploits of Middleton, he’s developed into one of the best small forwards in the league. It’s his versatility that makes him so dangerous, as Middleton is an elite three-point shooter and a shutdown defender when he’s right. While he’s only expected to play 15-20 minutes in this debut, it will give this struggling Bucks team a huge boost for the final couple months.
