Miami travels to play Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee
Miami Heat (35-36, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (53-19, first in the Eastern Conference)
Milwaukee; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Miami Heat play the top-ranked team in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks are 35-10 in Eastern Conference games. Milwaukee is seventh in the NBA with 26 assists per game, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo averaging 6.0.
The Heat are 18-16 on the road. Miami is 15-17 in games decided by 10 points or more. The Bucks defeated the Heat 113-98 in their last matchup on March 15. Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 33 points and Justise Winslow paced Miami scoring 20 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Antetokounmpo is shooting 58 percent and averaging 27.5 points. Khris Middleton has averaged 7.1 rebounds and added 20.5 points per game over the last 10 games for Milwaukee.
Winslow leads the Heat averaging 4.3 assists while scoring 12.7 points per game. Dwyane Wade has averaged 14.1 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 44.2 percent over the last 10 games for Miami.
LAST 10 GAMES: Heat: 8-2, averaging 107.7 points, 47.2 rebounds, 25.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.0 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 99.4 points on 42.0 percent shooting.
Bucks: 5-5, averaging 116.3 points, 51.6 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.6 blocks per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.1 points on 43.7 percent shooting.
Bucks Injuries: Pau Gasol: out (undisclosed), Nikola Mirotic: out (left thumb), Donte DiVincenzo: out (heel), Sterling Brown: day to day (wrist), George Hill: day to day (left groin soreness), Malcolm Brogdon: out (heel), Giannis Antetokounmpo: day to day (ankle).
Heat Injuries: Justise Winslow: day to day (thigh), Rodney McGruder: day to day (left knee soreness), Bam Adebayo: day to day (right hip bruise).
