Bucks Zone

GAME DAY PREVIEW AND INJURY REPORT: The Milwaukee Bucks look to avoid a 1-3 hole when they face the Miami Heat in Game 4

A must-win situation for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Matthew Dugandzic|
© Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

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Milwaukee BucksMiami Heat

The Milwaukee Bucks are in a must-win situation as they go up against the Miami Heat in Game 4 of their first-round playoffs series on Monday night.

The Bucks, the overall top seed in the playoffs, are down in the best-of-seven series, 1-2. Another loss will put the Bucks in a very precarious situation.

After a promising regular season that saw them finish with an NBA-best 58-24 record, Milwaukee suddenly found itself walking the tightrope in the playoffs after their leader Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a lower back contusion in the series-opener.

Giannis left in the second quarter, and the Heat cruised to a 130-117 victory. Antetokounmpo missed Game 2, but the Bucks overcame his absence and pulled off a series-tying 138-122 win.

Doing the work for the Bucks

The two-time MVP also sat out when the series shifted to Miami for Game 3 last Saturday night. The Bucks couldn’t replicate their Game 2 performance and dropped Game 3, 121-99.

Without Giannis, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have been the heavy work of the Bucks. In the playoffs, Middleton is averaging a team-best 24.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. Holiday is good for 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and a team-best 10.0 assists,

Injury report

Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable with a lower back contusion and his aviliabilty will probbaly be revealed shortly befor tip-off, while Wesley Matthews is out with a right calf strain.

Out for the Heat are Tyler Herro (hand), Victor Oladipo (knee), and Nikola Jovic (back).

Bam Adebayo (left hamstring) and Jimmy Butler (lower body) are listed day-to-day, but they will most likely suit up.

Published
Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.