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Will Jimmy Butler Play Tonight? Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks: Predictions, Lineups & Injury Report

Published 12/30/2020, 4:30 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat will once again face each other to complete their doubleheader. The first one turned out to be a one-sided affair where the Bucks set an NBA record en route to destroying the Heat 144-97. 

Venue: AmericanAirlines Arena

Time: 7:30 PM ET (December 30, 2020)

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The Heat held back Giannis Antetokounmpo from scoring big and snapped his 132 game streak where he scored ten points or more. But they let their home court advantage slip by failing to bring out effective defense against a raging Milwaukee team. 

Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks – Preview, Injury, and Lineups

Miami Heat

The Heat have recorded just one win from three games so far. Jimmy Butler’s absence is hurting them at large and they were blatantly exposed against a fiery Milwaukee Bucks team. They now have to face the same team again in the same arena, the very next day after they got hammered. 

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It is no secret that Butler’s absence is causing the Heat to struggle. The rest of the roster offered the maximum energy they had into scoring buckets, and sophomore guard Tyler Herro stepped up and scored a team-high 23 points on Tuesday night. 

USA Today via Reuters

Jimmy Butler’s (ankle) injury is the only issue bothering the Heat at the moment. Else, they have a healthy roster that would be determined to go out for the double-header and put some respect back into the franchise’s name. 

Possible Lineup

Goran Dragic (G)

Tyler Herro (G)

Duncan Robinson (F)

Bam Adebayo (F)

Meyers Leonard (C) 

Milwaukee Bucks

As for the Bucks, they would be quite pumped to take on the Miami Heat once again. Fatigue would play a massive role, but the team would be raring to go out and replicate their performance from Tuesday night. 

USA Today via Reuters

Twelve different Milwaukee players shot a three against Miami, which is a new record in itself. Besides, their 3-point scoring, the Bucks also looked tight on the defensive end. Their only injury concern at the moment is that of forward Torrey Craig who is reported to be out due to a nasal fracture. 

Possible Lineup

Donte DiVincenzo (G)

Jrue Holiday (G)

Giannis Antetokounmpo (F)

Khris Middleton (F)

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Brook Lopez (C) 

Prediction

The Bucks were trashed by the Heat in the 2020 playoffs, and in return, Milwaukee handed Miami a 47-point defeat in the 2021 regular-season. But they’re not done yet, as the second fixture also has the potential to turn out the same way. 

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One can’t expect the Bucks to go out and break the 3-pt record once again, but they will surely attempt to go 2-0 against the Heat this season. The odds are very much stacked against Miami in the second fixture after what happened last night. 

Hence, we predict that there will be a similar result when these two teams clash again. The Milwaukee Bucks will defeat the Miami Heat and improve their season record to 3-2.

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Written by:

Arjun Athreya

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Arjun Athreya is a senior writer at Essentially Sports and has been contributing since early 2020. Having developed an avid interest in sports at an early age, he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. Arjun manages the Golf division and its content, and primarily covers news pertaining to the NBA as well.
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