Albeck, longtime coach, dies at 89 in hospice care

SAN ANTONIO » Stan Albeck, the former San Antonio, Cleveland, New Jersey and Chicago head coach during a long NBA career, died Thursday in hospice care at son John’s home. He was 89.

John Albeck told the San Antonio Express-News his father entered hospice care Thursday after having a stroke March 14. He also had a stroke in 2001 while an assistant coach with Toronto.

Albeck coached the ABA’s Denver Rockets in 1970-71, then directed Cleveland in 1979-80, San Antonio from 1980-83, New Jersey from 1983-85 and

Chicago in 1985-86 — with Michael Jordan in his second season. He took the Spurs to consecutive Western Conference Finals in 1982 and 1983.

“Coach Albeck wasn’t just important to the Spurs, he was what I call a lifer,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “People like myself don’t come close to loving the game as he did, and his whole family did. They participated in so many ways and followed him so many places.

“He would come to games, he would talk to players, talk to us as coaches. He always had a smile for us, a suggestion or two — because he’s a coach. … He is somebody we always respected and he brought a bright light to wherever he was.” TRAIL BLAZERS 125, HEAT 122 » Damian Lillard made three free throws with one second remaining for the final margin, and Portland survived a wild finish to beat short-handed Miami.

Lillard was fouled by Miami’s Trevor Ariza on a 3-point attempt, which the Heat argued to no avail. Miami didn’t have a time-out remaining and never got a desperation tying shot off, after its inbounds pass was deflected away. KNICKS 106, WIZARDS 102 » Alec Burks scored 15 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and New York beat Washington to sweep the two-game set.