The Milwaukee Bucks have a little hole to dig themselves out of as they approach Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series against the Miami Heat.

Not only did they suffer a 130-117 loss at home, they also lost the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player. Giannis Antetokounmpo fell to the floor early in Sunday's game and suffered a back contusion. He was immediately removed and spent the last three quarters in the locker room. He was listed as doubtful, and now, after getting some rest, coach Mike Budenholzer has upgraded his status to questionable and it's quite possible that he can get the start for Game 2, which begins at 9 PM ET at the Fiserv Forum.

In the NBA betting odds at BetOnline, the Bucks are listed a solid favorites to get even here:

Milwaukee Bucks -8
Miami Heat +8

Over 219.5 Points -115
Under 219.5 Points -105

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Giannis' absence put other players in a position where they had to come up big. Khris Middleton did just that, with 33 points. And Bobby Portis, who has been a big asset all season long, had 21 off the bench. What killed them in Game 1 was their own defensive scheme. Milwaukee operates the kind of defense that will allow its opponents to take plenty of three-point shots, and the Heat got, well, hot, hitting 15 of 25 beyond the arc.

And they did it largely without Tyler Herro, who had to leave the game with a broken hand. Herro will not be available for the Heat unless they make it to the NBA Finals, in all likelihood.

Miami was extremely fortunate to have gotten a big outing from Kevin Love, who has been to four NBA All-Star games but was wasting away in Cleveland. Love, who has always been a pretty versatile "big," pulled down eight rounds and made four triples on his way to 18 points. He is probably going to get serious playing time alongside Bam Adebayo.

There is some concern about Love and Duncan Robinson (and maybe even Victor Oladipo, if he sees action), in that they are not in a position to be defensive stalwarts. That's going to hurt against a Milwaukee team that will be more capable offensively even if Giannis is not 100%, because he will certainly draw a lot of attention.

The Heat will undoubtedly need something extra from Kyle Lowry, another former All-Star, who has not been starting (Gabe Vincent has been getting the starting assignment at point guard) and had only two points in 18:30 in Game 1. We say this because Lowry caught fire and became a threat after he returned from an injury. If someone like Jrue Holiday, a great defender, keeps him in check, and Love doesn't find the range, it will require another superhuman effort on the part of Jimmy Butler (35 points, eleven rebounds in Game 1) to get the win, or even the cover.

Keep in mind that even though we believe the Bucks, the #1 seed in the East, are capable of winning a game without Giannis, the fact is that they have been outscored this season when he is not on the floor. But indications are that he will be present and accounted for, as a two-way player, and that will inspire the Bucks to a potential rout.

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