Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has returned to South Florida after entering NBA health-and-safety protocols ahead of Sunday night’s victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
Because of the team flight back to South Florida, the Heat traveling party was subject to coronavirus testing. That led to Spoelstra entering the NBA’s protocols.
However, because there is no such testing retirement for a land-based border crossing, Spoelstra was able to drive to Buffalo, and then take a private flight back to South Florida.
According to NBA rules, Spoelstra must be quarantined for at least a five-day period, even if asymptomatic, unless he is able to produce consecutive negative coronavirus tests.
Assistant coach Chris Quinn guided the Heat to victory on Sunday night in place of Spoelstra.
It was the first time that the Heat won in the four games Spoelstra has missed during his Heat coaching tenure that dates to the start of the 2008-09 season.
“It feels great,” Quinn said of the victory, which remains credited to Spoelstra’s overall record. “Obviously moving over a chair for a game, there’s a lot of pressure. Obviously with the Heat, we expect to win, regardless of the circumstances. So it feels good just to get a win for the team, for the organization. Obviously. that’s very important for me.”
The Heat next play on Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets at FTX Arena.
Injury report
The Heat are listing six players as questionable for Tuesday vs. Charlotte: Dewayne Dedmon (ankle sprain), Kyle Lowry (body soreness), Caleb Martin (calf contusion), Markieff Morris (hip flexor strain), P.J. Tucker (knee irritation) and Gabe Vincent (toe contusion).
Jimmy Butler, who was held out Sunday in Toronto due to what was listed as a sore toe, is not on the injury report, with Tuesday looking like a possible night off for Lowry.
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