Middleton boosts Bucks past Heat

Hassan Whiteside scored 23 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for Miami, which has dropped two straight.

The East has gotten better, but so have the Milwaukee Bucks. They haven’t take the leap some were expecting this season, but taking care of business on the road in Miami is a baby step in the right direction. Injuries have decimated their roster during a brutal trek through January, and the few players still standing are struggling to keep Miami competitive. Four of these losses have been by double digits, with the Heat scoring over 100 points just once in the last six games. Luol Deng added 16 points with eight boards, but the Heat were out-rebounded and they hurt themselves with 20 turnovers.

Milwaukee has beaten Miami five consecutive times.

We’ve got a big National Basketball Association slate coming up tonight, and there’s a lot to talk about in the meantime. “Defense got us going”. They face James Harden and the Houston Rockets in the third game of their four-game trip on Friday night at the Toyota Center before ending it at the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. After all, they had fought their way into the playoffs last season and even won two games.

Expect Monroe, Middleton, and Antetokounmpo to lead the charge on both sides of the ball, as Miami guard Dwyane Wade and forward Chris Bosh have been the staples offensively for the Heat.

“Thankfully nothing is really serious, but we do have some things that we have to treat and rest”, Spoelstra said. They won the game 114-99, but lost guard Eric Gordon due to a fractured ring finger on his shooting hand.

“Once that third quarter came we just relaxed and played our game”, Durant said.

Miami failed to challenge in the fourth quarter, falling to 8-10 in its past 18 games.

Wade and Middleton crossed paths over the summer, introduced by mutual friends who suggested the Milwaukee guard should reach out to the three-time National Basketball Association champion for some guidance.

The Bucks ranked last in several defensive categories earlier this season, including defensive efficiency rating, a statistic that measures points allowed per 100 possessions.

“I’ve been in a rhythm”, Middleton said.