Spoelstra misses first game of career
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra missed the first game of his career Sunday, leaving the Heat with his wife on the cusp of delivering their first child.
Heat assistant coach
Dan Craig took Spoelstra’s spot for Miami’s game at Indiana.
Spoelstra returned to Miami on Saturday, leaving Indianapolis almost immediately after getting word that his wife Nikki was entering labor. The couple, who were married in 2016, announced late last year that they were expecting a son.
It’s expected that Spoelstra will coach the next Heat game, when Miami plays host to Cleveland on Tuesday night.
Spoelstra had not missed any of the previous 908 Heat games — 795 regular season, 113 more in the playoffs — since becoming head coach in 2008. He’s missed a mere 5.6 seconds of play in that decade; that was the time remaining when he got his first and still only ejection, in a game at the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 11, 2012.
Sunday’s result goes on Spoelstra’s career record.
Howard grabs 23 boards
It was as if Dwight Howard didn’t even have a game off.
Howard had 23 rebounds and 18 points to cap an eventful four days, and the Charlotte Hornets held off the Dallas Mavericks 102-98 on Saturday night for their third straight victory.
Howard had a careerhigh 30 rebounds and scored 32 points against Brooklyn on Wednesday night, then served a onegame suspension for his 16th technical foul of the season as Charlotte beat Memphis 140-79 on Thursday night.
That’s 50 points and 53 rebounds in Howard’s last two games.
“I was just trying to get as many rebounds as I can,” he said. “Dominate the paint, set some screens for Kemba (Walker) and the rest of the guys to open up everything else in the paint.”
Howard’s doubledouble was his 45th this season. He leads active players with 711 career double-doubles.
G League player collapses
An NBA G League player for the Grand Rapids Drive who collapsed on the court near the end of a game with the Long Island Nets is currently under care by doctors.
The Drive said in a news release Sunday that further updates on Zeke Upshaw’s condition will be provided when available. The team didn’t provide additional details on Upshaw’s condition.
Jewel Upshaw, the player’s mother, told WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids: “The next 24 hours are critical.”
Team spokeswoman Sarah Jbara told MLive.com that Upshaw tumbled to the floor Saturday night with about 50 seconds remaining in the game. He was taken off the court on a stretcher.
The 26-year-old Upshaw scored 11 points to help the Drive earn a playoff spot with the 101-99 victory in the regular-season finale.
Upshaw is in his second season with the Drive. The 6-foot-6 swingman from Chicago played three seasons at Illinois State and finished his college career with a year at Hofstra.