PLAYOFF PRIMER
No. 3 Milwaukee Bucks (46-26) vs. No. 6 Miami Heat (40-32)
'It's go time': 5 things to know about Milwaukee Bucks' first-round matchup with Miami Heat
After earning the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs this season, the Milwaukee Bucks are looking to avenge their loss to the Miami Heat in the second-round of last year's playoffs inside the NBA's Florida bubble when they kick off postseason play Saturday in Milwaukee.
Here are five things fans should know as the Bucks try to bring home a championship trophy for the first time since the franchise's 1971 title run:
PLAYOFF PRIMER
MILWAUKEE'S EXTREME MAKEOVER
MILWAUKEE'S EXTREME MAKEOVER
While this series in many ways will serve as a re-match of last season's second-round showdown, there are several new faces this time around — especially in Milwaukee.
MIAMI HEAT WAVE
MIAMI HEAT WAVE
The Heat didn't let a pair of lengthy mid-season losing streaks throw them off their path to the playoffs, finishing the final month of the season on fire. Winners of 12 of their final 16 games, the Heat are entering the playoffs with plenty of confidence.
BUD UNDER PRESSURE
BUD UNDER PRESSURE
The Bucks are standing behind coach Mike Budenholzer as he leads the team to the playoffs for the third straight season. But don't expect that loyalty to last too long if Milwaukee falls to Miami again.
GIANNIS, GIANNIS, GIANNIS!
GIANNIS, GIANNIS, GIANNIS!
Despite failing to make the shortlist for the league's Most Valuable Player award this season after taking home the hardware the previous two seasons, Giannis Antetokounmpo is unquestionably the most important player in this series.
With another event preventing them from playing in Milwaukee, the Bucks opened their title chase with a 4-1 series win over the San Francisco Warriors, winning one game on the road and all three they played at the UW Field House.
"We rely a lot on our teammates, to get them the rock, as well," Butler said. "I don't think we can get away from that. But maybe we've got to impose our will a little bit more, be a little bit more aggressive."
The investigators will work in conjunction with an Assembly committee already reviewing the November election.
Some of Milwaukee's new additions for this season — Jrue Holiday, Bryn Forbes and Bobby Portis in particular — played huge roles for the Bucks in their first-round sweep of the Heat.
Point guard Jrue Holiday is playing for a legitimate title contender for the first time in his NBA career.
After being 13th in the Eastern Conference at one point, the Heat rebounded to a 40-32 finish and the conference's No. 6 seed.
Giannis' older brother suffered an avulsion fracture to his right patella tendon in the regular-season finale.
Jordan Nwora finishes with 34 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee, which will play the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs.
Seven players score in double figures for Milwaukee in a 122-108 victory at Fiserv Forum.
Antetokounmpo shoots 14 of 18 from the field and 11 of 16 from the line in the 142-133 road victory.
He scores 27 points as Milwaukee keeps pace in the Eastern Conference.
The Heat hope that Jimmy Butler comes through again as Miami tries to beat Milwaukee in another run to the NBA Finals.
Khris Middleton scored with less than a second remaining in overtime to put the Milwaukee Bucks ahead for good at 109-107 as they went down to…
Even though Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday were the heroes for the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime as they closed out the Miami Heat 109-107 in …
The 11,000-athlete lineup for the Olympics will not be complete until four men's basketball qualifying tournaments — in Canada, Croatia, Lithuania and Serbia, each with one ticket to Tokyo — are played from June 29-July 4.
The master plan was for Heat President Pat Riley to turn to Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. Only Giannis re-signed with Milwaukee last December.
