Miami Heat: Make no mistake, Game 5 is a must-win scenario

Even while still leading the series three games to one, the Miami Heat need to treat Tuesday’s Game 5 against the Milwaukee Bucks as a must-win.

The Miami Heat fandom was split into two sides on Sunday when the team dropped Game 4 to the Milwaukee Bucks and saw their series lead slim down to 3-1.

When Giannis Antetokounmpo exited the game with a reaggravated ankle injury, it seemed the stars were aligning. For Miami that is, who ended up squandering the opportunity and allowing Milwaukee to stay in the game and ultimately win Game 4 behind some Khris Middleton heroics.

So, the series would be at least five games. No big deal, right? Wrong.

This is the line fans have found themselves teetering on since the final buzzer sounded on Sunday. Is it wrong to be worried about one game? Or should we chalk it up to somewhat of an anomaly, and count on Jimmy Butler and the Heat to close things out on Tuesday?

Going into Game 5, the sense around #HeatTwitter is neither one of concern or anticipation, but more so that of an indecisive party. Make no mistake friends, Game 5 is a must-win.

Even if Antetokounmpo makes a return to the floor for Tuesday’s matchup, in an attempt to keep the momentum going for the Bucks, Miami cannot let this series go any further.

For starters, the Boston Celtics are in a position to send the Toronto Raptors home on Wednesday, when the two face off in Game 6. If that is the case, then the Heat will only be at a further disadvantage by allowing this series to stretch out into a Game 6 on Thursday.

Boston or Toronto may not be as deep as this Bucks team, but that matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals may prove even tougher for Miami. They’ll want to be as rested as possible as they prepare for the last of three matchups that could put them within seven games of a title.

And the longer this round goes on, the larger the momentum that builds for Milwaukee. Given their top dog is an All-Star and reigning MVP, the kind of player that feeds off of those kinds of off the floor factors almost exclusively, that’s not a situation the Heat want to find themselves in.

There’s also the factor of the Bucks’ coach, Mike Budenholzer. While many have criticized his short leash in terms of minutes on the floor for Antetokounmpo and Middleton, there’s a reason he’s so highly regarded among the NBA. The more tape you give him, the closer he gets to a counter.

That counter, along with Antetokounmpo’s return and any potential multiple game winning streak for Milwaukee, shouldn’t scare the Heat, no. But Miami needs to come out awake and alert and close out this series with a Game 5 win over the Bucks.

The Miami Heat will look to end this series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday with a Game 5 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Tip-off is scheduled for 630 pm EST, and coverage will be provided by TNT and TNT Overtime.