The Milwaukee Bucks will begin their 2023 NBA Championship run with a first round matchup against the Miami Heat. This will be the fourth time the two teams meet in the NBA Playoffs. The Heat won the first two playoff series while the Bucks won the most recent matchup. Here, we will take a look at the playoff history between the two teams and present some key stats from the 2023 NBA regular reason that will play a role in the series. Of note, the winner of every Bucks-Heat playoff series has gone on to play in the NBA Finals.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat Playoff Matchup #1: 2013- Heat Won Series 4-0
The 2013 Milwaukee Bucks slipped into the postseason with a record of 38-44. As the eighth seed, they were pitted against the Miami Heat, the Eastern Conference’s top seed. This Heat team, of course, consisted of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and former Bucks star Ray Allen (pictured above). As one would have expected, the Heat made easy work of the Bucks. Milwaukee failed to score 100 points in any game, and scored over 90 points just once.
Of course, 2013 was a notable year for the Bucks’ franchise. Their elimination in the first round gave them the 15th overall pick in the draft that year, a pick they used on a young teenager from Greece named Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat Playoff Matchup #2: 2020- Heat Won Series 4-1
The 2019-2020 Milwaukee Bucks were steamrolling through the regular season when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the league. When play resumed inside the bubble in Orlando, Florida, one could tell they had lost their momentum. After defeating the Orlando Magic 4-1 in the opening round, the Bucks hit a wall, almost literally, in the second round.
Miami’s Giannis wall limited the two-time MVP’s effectiveness in the lane. Additionally, Milwaukee’s role players failed to make open shots. The Heat won the series in five games. Eventually, they would go on to lose in the NBA Finals to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The second-round loss led to sweeping changes on the Bucks’ roster. Jrue Holiday was acquired via trade and Bobby Portis signed as a free agent.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat Playoff Matchup #3: 2021- Bucks Won Series 4-0
A year later, same teams, but much different results. With the additions of Holiday and Portis, Giannis and the third-seed Bucks made easy work of the sixth-seed Heat. After a close Game One (109-107), Milwaukee won the next three games by 34, 29, and 17 points.
Of course, Milwaukee would go on to defeat the Brooklyn Nets in the second round and the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bucks would defeat the Phoenix Suns in six games in the NBA Finals.
2023 Key Stats
- The Milwaukee Bucks were 2-2 against the Heat this season
- Giannis played just one full game against the Heat in the 2022-23 season. In that game, he had 35 points, 15 rebounds, and 11 assists
- Jrue Holiday has averaged 18.8 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds against the Heat this season
- The Bucks averaged 112.0 points against the Heat this season while shooting 45.4% from the floor and 38.7% from three
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