Pro Basketball Picks: Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Miami Heat at Milwaukee Bucks
Wednesday, 2/1/12, 8:00 PM EST, TV: SUN
Opening Point Spread: Miami -6
Current Betting Line: Miami -6.5
Opening Total: 194.5
Current Total: 196
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Milwaukee Bucks have scored 100-plus points in four consecutive games entering Wednesday night's contest against the Miami Heat

Miami heads out on a two-game Eastern Conference road trip Wednesday night and will be looking to gain revenge from a 91-82 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first meeting this year as nine-point home favorites. The Heat have won five-straight games since that defeat on Jan. 22, including a dominating 109-95 victory over the New Orleans Hornets to close out a three-game homestand. There’s no question that the team will try and take care of the basketball, posting an 1-0 record when committing 15 turnovers or fewer. “I think we’re going a much better job of taking care of the basketball,” commented Heat forward Chris Bosh. Miami is 3-6 ATS on the road this year and the “over” is 6-3 in that situation.

The Heat have been led by star forward LeBron James the past four games, as he’s averaged 29 points and 7.5 rebounds over that span. He ranks second in the NBA in scoring and third in field-goal percentage. Miami’s defense has been tremendous recently, holding nine consecutive opponents to under 100 points. It will need to bring that same type of intensity into the Bradley Center in tonight’s contest, with Milwaukee going over the century mark in four straight games.

Milwaukee has won the last two meetings in this series and will not be intimidated by Miami in any way, even without the services of star center Andrew Bogut, who is out with an ankle injury. The Bucks have won five of their last seven games and the locker room is happy with its recent play. “We’re just rolling right now,” stated Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings. He has been tremendous over the past eight games, averaging 23.5 points in that span. Milwaukee is 5-3 ATS at home this season and the “over” is 6-1 in those contests.

The Bucks are the only team in the league that has won two regular-season games against the Heat in the last 11 months. Milwaukee will need a big game from Drew Gooden in order to win its third straight game in this series, as he’s averaged 20.7 points and 9.3 rebounds in three games since replacing Bogut in the starting lineup.