<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - How are the Bucks more prepared for a playoff run in 2021 than in previous years?"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">MIAMI — From the moment Khris Middleton stepped into a four-point play at the 10:10 mark of the first quarter to give the Milwaukee Bucks a 6-2 lead over the Miami Heat, he was there to kill the vibe of 17,000 fans at American Airlines Arena.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The largest crowd in an NBA arena in over a year saw Middleton time and again suppress any urge they had to get out of their seat and cheer as the Bucks took a commanding 3-0 series lead with a 113-84 victory Thursday night.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">While the Bucks never trailed after Middleton’s early four-point play and actually led quite comfortably throughout, any feeling of momentum built by the Heat was quelled by the 29-year-old wing.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">"We got off to a little slow start shooting the ball, but we were able to settle in," Middleton said. "It's harder on the road. I think this is our first road game — skip last year — in two years. Just being in a different environment and not really playing on the road this year with fans as much as this, it gets rowdy. It took a little bit or us to settle in and get what we need to get done."</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">NBA ROUNDTABLE:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/nba/2021/05/27/milwaukee-bucks-better-prepared-making-long-nba-playoff-run/7464498002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Are Bucks better prepared for long playoff run this year?</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/sports/nba/2021/05/21/nba-playoffs-schedule-matchups-dates-game-times-tv-info/5155847001/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">First-round matchups, results, game times and TV info</a></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The metronomic way Middleton answered whatever the Heat managed offensively suits the soft-spoken two-time All-Star, though the timely buckets further illustrated the cold bloodedness he displayed in hitting his Game 1 winner. He led the Bucks with 22 points while adding eight rebounds...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2021/05/28/bucks-series-lead-khris-middleton-jrue-holiday-step-up/7474070002/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
