Another great month for the Miami Heat. Another award for Erik Spoelstra.
Spoelstra on Monday was named NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for March, the second straight month he has earned the honor. He steered the Heat to a 17-1 record in March, the most wins by any team in a month in NBA history. The Heat were 12-1 in February.
The Heat have won 29 of their past 30 games. Included in that was a 27-game winning streak, the second-longest in NBA history.
Spoelstra joins Stan Van Gundy, who did it in 2004-05, as the only Heat coaches to have been named Coach of the Month twice in the same season. His fifth career award also tied Pat Riley for most in team history.
The Heat closed March with a most surprising win. Despite three starters sitting out because of listed injuries, the Heat won 88-86 at San Antonio. The Heat have the NBA's best record, 58-15; the Spurs have the second-best mark, 55-18.
Honored Monday as Western Conference Coach of the Month was Denver's George Karl, who steered the Nuggets to a 13-2 record in March.
Spoelstra's quest for a third straight award for Coach of the Month begins Tuesday, when Miami plays host to New York.
Chris Tomasson can be reached at christomasson@hotmail.com or on Twitter @christomasson
