Game 3: Heat @ Bucks Thurs. April 25, 2025 7 p.m. ET

The defending NBA champion Miami Heat were able to impose their will in the first two games of this first round playoff series with the Milwaukee Bucks with LeBron James playing as anticipated and Dwyane Wade shouldering the load in Game 2.

As a result of the Heat’s dominance in the first two games, the defending champions will take a two-game lead in the series to Milwaukee. Miami has been the clear favorite to advance in this series from the get go and that hasn’t changed after the first two games.

The Bucks did show signs of promise in Game 2 with the team actually giving the favored Heat a run for their money in the first half. Despite the surge by the lowly Bucks in the first half, the Heat got back on track in the second half with Dwyane Wade leading the charge.

Unfortunately for Milwaukee, Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis don’t appear to be enough for this team to even stand a chance against the Heat in this series, as the Bucks seem to be headed toward a sweep.

The series may ultimately take a turn for the worst for the Heat in Milwaukee with the team getting some confidence in Game 2 in terms of being able to contend with the defending champs, but it will likely be more of the same for Miami moving forward.

As of right now, the Heat is favored to win Game 3 with a -7 ½ point spread. Miami will likely struggle in the first half in Milwaukee, but the Heat should ultimately cruise to victory over the Bucks while covering the spread with relative ease.

Prediction: Heat -7 1/2

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