Miami Heat Eliminated From In-Season Tournament After Loss To Milwaukee Bucks

Playing with Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat fell to the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard-led Milwaukee Bucks

Suddenly, the Miami Heat are struggling again. 

After winning nine of 10 games, the Heat have now lost three straight. The latest was a 131-124 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks Tuesday in Miami. The defeat eliminated the Heat from the In-Season Tournament. 

“It’s a shame because I thought we played a very good basketball game," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I felt like we did enough to at least put ourselves in a better shot to win the game.”

The Heat were playing without forward Jimmy Butler, who was ruled out before the game because of an ankle injury. They were also minus Haywood Highsmith (back). Center Bam Adebayo carried the load by scoring 31 points. Guard Kyle Lowry finished with 21 points while Josh Richardson added 20 and Jaime Jaquez and Caleb Martin each had 14. 

The Bucks were led by their talented tandem of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Antetokounmpo had a game-high 33 points while Lillard had 32. 

The Heat return to action Thursday against the Indiana Pacers at Kaseya Center. 

“I think we’re very positive about where we are,” Lowry said. “I think we’re all positive and we know what we are and we know what we could possibly be.”

VIDEO: Miami Heat's Jimmy Butler Breaks Down Defending Milwaukee Bucks Star Giannis Antetokounmpo

Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat, a Fan Nation channel for Sports Illustrated. He has covered the NBA since 2010.

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