Bucks vs. Heat predictions, picks & odds for NBA playoffs Game 3, 4/22

Pickswise provides exclusive sports betting content to MLive.com, including picks, analysis, tools, games and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Please wager responsibly.

There’s been no shortage of storylines in the first round of the NBA playoffs, which unfortunately includes injuries. Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat are dealing with that as they head into Game 3 of their series on Saturday night. The Bucks earned the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference but were upset by the Heat in Game 1. They bounced back on Wednesday night to even the series at 1-1 before heading down to South Beach.

With a more back-and-forth series than anticipated, our experts have provided their Bucks vs. Heat predictions for Game 3, and how you can use our best bet to claim a $1,250 bonus by becoming a new member at Caesars Sportsbook.

to sign up at Caesars Sportsbook to claim insurance on your first bet up to $1,250 to use on our Bucks vs. Heat predictions, or any other matchup you’d like.

As mentioned, both the Bucks and Heat are dealing with injuries, and they’re to significant players. None more so than Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak may be winning his third MVP award, so his absence will always be felt. His back injury in Game 1 prevented him from being on the court in Game 2, but the Bucks still pulled out the win.

The Heat were also missing a key play in that Game 2 loss. Tyler Herro may not quite be the caliber of Giannis, but he’s a former Sixth Man of the Year and can absolutely take over a game. Milwaukee was able to win on Wednesday by tying the NBA record for threes in a postseason game, and Herro is someone who could’ve canceled out some of those deep balls.

Unfortunately for Miami, that won’t be the case anytime soon. Herro requires surgery for the injury on his right hand, making him unavailable until the NBA Finals, if the Heat were somehow to make it that far. However, Milwaukee has a much more optimistic outlook for Giannis. They expect him back sooner rather than later, and with the extra day of rest between Game 2 and Game 3, that only helps his recovery.

With those injury updates under our belt, let’s get started checking out our experts’ Bucks vs. Heat predictions and best bet.

The Bucks managed to get a big win despite the absence of Antetokounmpo by putting up an impressive 138 points. They scored 81 points in the first half, and despite the Greek Freak’s absence, Milwaukee had a significant lead of 118-85 at the end of the third quarter. That’s what was expected from them in Game 1, and now they’ll have to try and repeat that success on the road.

The Heat will of course be without Herro, but they still got a standout performance from Jimmy Butler, who scored 25 points by making eight of his 12 shots from the field. In Herro’s absence, Duncan Robinson was able to score 14 points as his replacement. While it wasn’t enough for the win, Game 3 will be in Miami, and they’ve already proven they can compete with the Bucks.

Once again, the impressive athletic skills of both teams will be on display during Saturday night’s game. Based on the intense play in the previous two games and the strong offense of both teams, we expect that the star players will shine down in South Beach.

Considering the Heat’s aspirations to continue their impressive run and the fact that they were able to steal Game 1 from the Bucks in Milwaukee, we expect that they will maintain their current form and keep Game 3 very close. Opening the series with a win should have their confidence high, especially if Antetokounmpo is forced to miss another game.

Even if they aren’t able to pull off the outright upset, getting nearly two possessions on the point spread at home simply feels like too many points. Therefore, the best bet from our Bucks vs. Heat predictions is on Miami +5.5 with -110 odds at Caesars Sportsbook.

Whether you end up wanting to roll with our Bucks vs. Heat predictions or not is completely up to you, but you’ll want to either way. When you join using the Caesars promo code MLIVEFULL, you’ll receive a two-part bonus that will allow you make your first pick up to $1,250 without worrying about the outcome.

That’s because if your first bet loses, Caesars will fully reimburse you with a bonus bet equal to your wager amount. To go along with that, win or lose, new users will also receive 1,000 Tier Credits and 1,000 Caesars Rewards Credits®. Remember, all it takes is the Caesars Sportsbook promo code MLIVEFULL when creating a new account to secure your new-user promo.

With the injury report, Bucks vs. Heat predictions and $1,250 sign-up bonus all at your disposal, let’s check out the latest lines and odds at Caesars Sportsbook.

Milwaukee is currently a 5.5-point favorite with -110 odds, making Miami a 5.5-point underdog with the same -110 odds. An $11 bet on the Bucks profits $10 if they win by at least six points, while the same $11 bet on the Heat profits $10 if they lose by five points or less or pull off the upset.

The total (over/under) is listed at 220.5 points with -110 odds for both the over and the under. You’re welcome to target any market you’d like up to $1,250 knowing that Caesars will refund you with a bonus bet if it loses. Simply to join today using the Caesars Sportsbook promo code MLIVEFULL.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net