After the Miami Heat opened the series with a win over the Milwaukee Bucks, a look at three things to watch for in Game 2.
The Miami Heat pulled off a Game 1 upset over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, defeating the Eastern Conference’s best team in a 115-104 rout.
Jimmy Butler was his best self, notching 40 points on the night, a new playoff career-high. Goran Dragic kept up his recent strong play at starting point guard, with 27 points of his own. And Bam Adebayo was all over the place, finishing with 12 points, 17 rebounds, and six assists.
For Milwaukee, it wasn’t a bad game at all. A couple lapses defensively in the third quarter and questionable plays call in that same second half, but they looked every bit as good as the regular season. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
As the two teams gear up for their second meet, a look at three things to watch in Game 2.
Will Duncan Robinson rebound from Game 1 woes, again?
It wasn’t Duncan Robinson’s night in Game 1, with the sharpshooter finishing with just four points on one-of-four shooting from behind the arc. We saw the same thing in Game 1 of the Indiana Pacers series, where he went just two-of-eight from three for six points.
But what did Robinson do after that in Game 2? Nothing much, aside from tying the Miami Heat record for most three-pointers made in a playoff game. Robinson absolutely combusted, finishing the night with 24 points on seven-of-eight made three-pointers.
Can he recapture the same fire that saw him explode in Game 2 of the last series, and rebound in Game 2 against the Milwaukee Bucks? It’d be a welcome sight and big help for Miami.
Has Jae Crowder replaced Andre Iguodala in the closing lineup?
2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala was brought in at the cost of promising youth Justise Winslow, with the purpose of adding a little extra experience and boost to this Miami Heat defense.
Yet another one of Pat Riley’s “gambles” has paid off, with the veteran forward having played a big part in both of their playoff series thus far. An interesting development in the opening match of this series with the Milwaukee Bucks though is not Iguodala’s presence, but his absence.
It was Jae Crowder who was on the floor in the closing minutes of Game 1. Iguodala had typically been seen in those pockets previously but was watching from the sidelines on Monday.
It’s possible that Crowder is more suitable for this matchup. He was able to hold his own against both Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez in the Game 1 win. Iguodala also notably got out to some early foul trouble, picking up his third with over seven minutes remaining in the first half.
If it’s still a close game at the end of the fourth, take note of the Miami Heat’s closing lineup.
Will we see Derrick Jones Jr in Game 2?
One surprising development of the ever-spinning carousel that is coach Erik Spoelstra’s rotation, was the complete absence of Derrick Jones Jr. The 23-year old forward has been one of the team’s better defenders this year but received a “DNP-Coach’s Decision” on Monday.
First, it was Meyers Leonard, then briefly Kendrick Nunn, and now Jones Jr. Spoelstra has shown no hesitation in benching a player who’s underperforming, no matter their role. Not that Jones Jr was a huge piece for them in the first round either, but he saw playing time.
He averaged just 2.3 points and 0.8 steals over the four games in just under 11 minutes nightly.
Will he be the next Miami Heat player to reclaim their place in the rotation, come Game 2?
Arguably the most competitive second-round series thus far will resume on Wednesday night, in Game 2 of the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks series.
Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 pm est, and coverage will be provided by ESPN.