Bucks Now +730 to Win Series vs Miami After Staying Alive in 118-115 Game 4 Win Despite Antetokounmpo Spraining Ankle

• The Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a dramatic overtime win on Sunday to avoid a sweep, winning Game 4 in OT
• Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered an ankle sprain in the first half and did not return
• Can the Bucks pull off the miraculous series comeback at odds of +730?

The Milwaukee Bucks kept their first round series alive on Sunday with a desperation overtime win. Giannis Antetokounmpo limped out of the game in the first half and was unable to return, but the Bucks found a way to win against the Miami Heat despite having fallen 3-0 down in the series.

With the soon-to-be back-to-back MVP out for the night (and likely longer), Milwaukee leant on Khris Middleton. Middleton played almost 50 minutes, carrying the team’s offense down the stretch and hitting big shots over and over again.

A season long favorite in the NBA championship odds, Milwaukee will have to make history to make it out of the second round. The odds in the table below reflect their position.

Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks Series Odds

Odds taken September 6th

No More Greek Freak?

The Bucks played some great basketball without Antetokounmpo on Sunday. For the most part, the ball movement was better, players were doing more off-ball. That’s not to say they’re a better team without the Greek Freak, however, who scored 19 points in 14 minutes he played before re-aggravating his ankle injury.

Having been questionable before Sunday’s duel, Antetokounmpo turned his ankle in the second quarter and went to ground clutching his leg. After barely putting weight on his foot, he eventually tried to walk it off and shot the free throws, but he immediately left the game and headed to the locker room.

A few minutes later he was confirmed as out for the rest of the game, and it’s hard to imagine him playing another game in this series.

Not. Out. Yet.

The Bucks avoid elimination without Giannis and beat the Heat in OT, 118-115 🦌 pic.twitter.com/OByWQIyFVR

— ESPN (@espn) September 6, 2020

Anything is possible if Giannis can return. His performance in those 14 minutes on Sunday looked like the start of something special – he was able to get to the rim much easier than he had in the previous three games.

Middleton Shines

Mike Budenholzer refused to stretch his starters minutes. That changed on Sunday, with Middleton playing the most of any Buck this season on his way to a 36-point, eight-rebound, eight-assist night.

It was all necessary, particularly with Antetokounmpo out for the night, and it’s hardly a sustainable pattern if this series is to go deep.

Khris Middleton having a GROWN man game

— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) September 6, 2020

Middleton was hitting difficult shots, and he was having to do almost all of the work on offense. Milwaukee had no one else capable of creating off the dribble. The former second-round draft selection was notably exhausted in the fourth and overtime – he will struggle to put in a similar performance with that workload in Game 6.

Sunday was a special performance from Middleton and the Bucks. Unfortunately, a repeat on Tuesday seems very unlikely.

Bucks Find Defensive Peak

This Milwaukee team has been built on a truly elite defense. Even without the Defensive Player of the Year, they found a new gear on the defensive end down the stretch in Game 4. Middleton was superb, often guarding Jimmy Butler, as was Eric Bledsoe. They had issues protecting the rim at times, but Brook Lopez came up with some clutch blocks.

TOGETHER. pic.twitter.com/tGP20TJVUr

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 6, 2020

Butler was unable to control the game late on as he did earlier in the series (he finished with just 17 points). Shots started falling for Milwaukee, allowing them to get set defensively. Wes Matthews, Bledsoe and Donte DiVincenzo were relentless guarding Miami’s shooters, evading screens and contesting shots in a disciplined manner.

The Heat looked to be pulling away in the fourth quarter, but a combination of locked in defense and tricky shot-making saw the Bucks go on a 12-0 run which turned the game.

Miami Will Progress

There’s limited news about Antetokounmpo’s injury at the moment. Budenholzer said they will see how he responds to treatment, but there’s no chance he’s playing at even 90% in Game 5. His series is likely done.

https://twitter.com/TermineRadio/status/1302734571205730305

The Bucks needed things to go their way to win without Antetokounmpo, and they needed a herculean effort from their other All-Star. Going again on Tuesday will probably be a step too far against a Miami team with so many options on offense and a defense that works tirelessly.

There’s not much to get excited about with the Heat at -1300, but they should still take this series comfortably. They’re a good bet at -162 to win Game 5.