|
 Middleton's presence helped Greg Monroe, who had 15 points and 10
rebounds, and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (14 points).
The Bucks have won five straight against the Heat, sweeping all four
games last season. There is no doubt the Bucks' height advantage --
they start a 6 feet, 6 inch point guard, two 6-8 wings and two 6-11
players -- gives Miami trouble.
"Khris is able to impact the game in several ways," Bucks interim
coach Joe Prunty said. "He is able to score and create shots for
others, making passes out of the double team."
Miami were without their top two point guards because of injuries --
Goran Dragic and Beno Udrih. That forced Wade to play more point
guard along with emergency starter Tyler Johnson.
"I don't like it," Wade said of playing the point. "Tyler is doing
the best he can, but he is not a typical point guard.
"At the right times, I'm cool with playing the one (point) as long
as we run the offense and the ball finds me back somewhere. But it's
frustrating when the ball doesn't move back around."
Middleton praised the Bucks' defense, which held Miami to 36.5
percent shooting from the floor.
"We challenged every shot," Middleton said. "We tried to make it
difficult on them. Once we did that, we were dangerous on the other
end."
Milwaukee (19-25) are 6-4 in January after winning their third
straight game, following losing months in November (7-9) and
December (6-10).
Miami (23-19), led by forward Chris Bosh's 23 points, lost their
second straight game. Miami center Hassan Whiteside added 23 points
and a game-high 18 rebounds, but the Heat are 6-8 at home against
Eastern Conference teams this season.
Wade, playing with two sore shoulders, scored two points one
one-of-6 shooting. Johnson scored three points on 0-of-6 shooting.
The two combined for eight turnovers and minus-33.
[to top of second column] |
"We don't want to make excuses," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of
the injuries. "That's not even in our mindset."
Another injured Heat player was Gerald Green, who played despite
right knee tendinitis. Green was held to six points on two-of-10
shooting.
This was Miami's first home game after a 2-4 road trip. After
Tuesday, the Heat leave again, this time for a five-game trip, and
do not play in the same city in consecutive games during a
month-plus span.
Perhaps that strain was felt in the first half as Miami trailed
early. Milwaukee led 19-18 after the first quarter and 49-39 at
halftime.
Things got even better for Milwaukee in the third quarter as the
Bucks went on an 18-2 run. Milwaukee led 75-57 after three quarters.
Miami failed to challenge in the fourth quarter, falling to 8-10 in
their past 18 games.
"We saw the same thing you saw -- a pretty flat performance,"
Spoelstra said.
Bosh said the Heat took too many quick shots.
"We didn't work their defense," Bosh said. "It's disappointing not
living up to our standards.
"With young guys at the guard position, they have to learn. We have
to toughen up. It's not going to come from an outside source."
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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