The Milwaukee Bucks won an NBA championship in 2021, and the Miami Heat claimed a conference title in 2023. Despite their pedigrees, both the Bucks and Heat have faced challenges this season as they prepare to meet in an NBA Cup East Group B game in Miami on Tuesday night.
Milwaukee started the season by losing eight of its first 10 games, while Miami has struggled to stay more than one game above .500.
However, the Bucks, coached by Doc Rivers, have rebounded by winning four straight games and six of their last seven. They currently hold a 2-0 record in the NBA Cup round-robin standings, while Miami is 1-1.
Rivers attributes the Bucks’ recent success to the unselfish play of superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in scoring with 32.4 points per game and ranks second on the Bucks in assists with 6.4. Lillard, who is second on the team in scoring with 25.2 points per game, leads the Bucks in assists with 7.4.
After missing three games due to a concussion, Lillard has returned strong, recording three double-doubles in his past four games and averaging 9.3 assists during that span. Antetokounmpo, who has missed just one game this season, is shooting 62.4 percent on 2-pointers and averaging 11.9 rebounds. He maintained his confidence even when the Bucks started the season 2-8.
Meanwhile, the Heat secured a 123-118 overtime victory against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Jimmy Butler scored a season-high 33 points, including the game-tying dunk with 4.1 seconds left in regulation. Butler, who has now posted back-to-back 30-point games, ranks second on the team in scoring (19.2), second in assists (5.0), and third in rebounds (5.7).
Rookie Pelle Larsson, a second-round pick from Sweden, is starting to get more playing time and highlighted the impact of the “Butler Effect.” With starting guard Terry Rozier out due to a right foot injury, Larsson and other reserves stepped up. Rozier is probable for Tuesday’s game.
Miami’s bench includes veterans Alec Burks and Kevin Love, as well as young talents like Larsson, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Nikola Jovic.
