The Miami Heat take on the NBA leading Milwaukee Bucks team on Monday. What does NBA 2k think about the matchup between two Eastern contenders?
The Miami Heat have a small win streak gong. Albeit two games in a row, Heat fans have something to cheer about after two close fourth quarter scares against the visiting Mavericks and Nets. Like we’ve been saying for a week now, the true test is coming Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
No matter what narrative ESPN is pushing, Giannis Antetokounmpo clearly leads this year’s MVP race. There’s no question that he has led his team to the best record in the NBA while being the main guy every single night.
There are some things in the Heat’s favor this time around though. The Bucks are about to play their sixth game in five nights, with all but one of them being on the road.
They may not say they’re tired because they keep winning but if you take a closer look, only one of those wins was decided by ten or more points. That was the game against surprise Western Conference playoff team, the Oklahoma City Thunder at home.
Milwaukee seems to be dealing with a minor injury bug that held Khris Middleton out of their previous game with a sore neck. Coach Mike Budenholzer was hopeful that Middleton would be able to play against the Miami Heat, but we’ll have to wait and see. He’s already missed two consecutive games.
"I think we're very hopeful. He won't be able to play today but that he will be able to play tomorrow."
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) March 1, 2020
Although Khris Middleton won't play today, Coach Budenholzer is optimistic he will be back in the lineup soon. pic.twitter.com/rfhxrNcB3D
For Miami, Tyler Herro and Meyers Leonard remain sidelined. For some good news and on Bam Adebayo, who was dealing with a sore ankle, he’s no longer listed on the injury report. He should be a full go against the Bucks.
Miami is going to need all hands on deck. I did make an executive decision to move Derrick Jones Jr back to the bench in favor of Kelly Olynyk starting at center, which gave Adebayo the freedom to guard Antetokounmpo, Middleton, or whoever. Anywhere but glued to Brook Lopez, who I’m sure will spend quite a bit of time near the 3-point line.
Every matchup is recorded for authenticity and uploaded to YouTube, so if you want to see the simulation for yourself, the latest upload to my channel will have the footage uninterrupted. There you’ll be able to see the adjustments I made to the rotation of each team and the players overall.
Starting Lineup
Miami Heat
Point guard, Kendrick Nunn
Shooting guard, Duncan Robinson
Small forward, Jimmy Butler
Power forward, Bam Adebayo
Center, Kelly Olynyk
Milwaukee Bucks
Point guard, Eric Bledsoe
Shooting guard, Wesley Matthews
Small forward, Khris Middleton
Power forward, Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center, Brook Lopez
Outcome
Miami Heat 112, Milwaukee Bucks 98
The Heat came out guns blazing to start the contest with an 11-4 run before the Bucks figured out their lives and put more points on the board. Midway through the second quarter, Miami held an 11 point lead and seemed to be keeping the Bucks at bay by holding them to 17 points in the first quarter and only 14 up until that point.
What everyone knew would happen, happened at this moment in the game. The Bucks went on a run. They were able to cut the Heat lead down to six before heading to the locker room at halftime.
So far, Bam Adebayo had 18 points and was a perfect 6/6 at the free-throw line. No other Heat players scored in double figures, including Jimmy Butler who was held scoreless, but they ran a tight ship as a unit which helped to compensate for the lack of production from others.
They shot 46 percent from the field while maintaining their smooth stroke from beyond the arc. Oh, and 13-of-14 free throws didn’t hurt either.
Miami was given a dose of their own medicine as the Bucks stormed out on a 12-3 run to start the second half, but the Heat quickly recovered and only lost the third period by two points. Now on to the infamous quarter that Heat Nation knows all too well. The fourth.
The Miami Heat headed into the final frame up just a measly four points. Given their recent propensity to give up these sorts of leads, there was certainly cause for concern.
It was a heavyweight slugfest with both teams deadlocked but still throwing punches. With 2:40 remaining and a soft eight-point lead, Miami took matters into their own hands.
A short 9-3 run was all they needed to put the Bucks away and secure their 14 point victory at home. Bam Adebayo knew what this game meant for his team, went out, and scored a career-high 37 points against The Freak. “Take that for data!”
Player stats
Miami Heat
Bam Adebayo – 37 points (9-of-9 FT), 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks
Duncan Robinson – 17 points, 2 rebounds
Goran Dragić – 15 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists
jimmy Butler – 12 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 6 steals, 1 block
Kendrick Nunn – 11 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo – 26 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists,2 steals, 1 block
George Hill – 13 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 1 steal
Eric Bledsoe – 12 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Khris Middleton – 11 points, 2 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals
Wesley Matthews – 9 points, 1 assist, 1 steal
Yes! Digital Duncan Robinson figured things out.
Six of his ten total shots came from beyond the arc and he made five of them. Those who have been following the series have been waiting on this for a while.
The Heat held Giannis to only 26 points but that’s great after he just dropped 41 points and 20 rebounds the night prior. That good fortune didn’t come without a cost though as Bam Adebayo ended up fouling out late in the fourth, but the deed had already been done.
It’s only onward and upward from here! Can the Miami Heat replicate the simulation’s success? We sure hope so.