Coach Erik Spoelstra remained away from the Miami Heat on Tuesday, still in NBA health-and-safety protocols, with the team giving point guard Kyle Lowry the night off against the Charlotte Hornets.
Assistant Chris Quinn guided the Heat for the second consecutive game, having also filled in for Spoelstra in Sunday night’s road victory over the Toronto Raptors.
The Heat also were without backup center Dewayne Dedmon, due to a sprained right ankle.
By NBA rule, Spoelstra must remain isolated from the team for five days after testing Sunday in Toronto, unless he produces two negative coronavirus tests.
Quinn said Spoelstra has been in constant contact, including a congratulatory text after Sunday’s game.
“Spo’s been involved every step of the way, still,” Quinn said ahead of Tuesday night’s game at FTX Arena. “Even today, prepping for the game, he’s still doing everything like he normally would, just remotely, the game-plan, the preps, all that stuff.
“I’ve Facetimed and Zoomed with Spo more in the past 48 hours than probably in a long time.”
Quinn said the timing was right for a night off for Lowry, 36, a game after his emotional return to Toronto, where he had played the previous nine seasons. Lowry played all three games of the Heat’s just-completed trip, including the Saturday-Sunday back-to-back wins in Chicago and Toronto.
“He’s been working hard,” Quinn said. “Obviously it was a good road trip, the back-to-back, also the emotional toll of the other night, which was really great to be a part of, being recognized like he was, as a champion. So he just needed a day.”
Of Dedmon being out, Quinn said, “He tweaked his ankle the other night, so he’s just dealing with it day by day.”
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