Spoelstra and Gentry named Coaches of the Month for March

NEW YORK -- The Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra and the Phoenix Suns' Alvin Gentry today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively, for games played in March.

Spoelstra led the Heat to a 12-3 (.800) March, with seven of the victories coming by double figures. The 12 wins tied for the second most wins in the league. Miami closed the month on a six-game winning streak, including a four-game winning streak on the road. Having entered March in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, Miami now sits in sixth place, one-half game out of fifth.

Gentry guided the Suns to a Western Conference-best 12-2 (.857) record in March, including a current nine-game winning streak to close. Phoenix defeated the Jazz, Nuggets and Trail Blazers in March, teams that are all jockeying for position with Phoenix in the Western Conference playoff race. On March 30 during a 111-105 win at Chicago, the Suns clinched a playoff berth for the 29th time in franchise history, and the fifth in the last six seasons.

Other nominees for the Coach of the Month were Charlotte's Larry Brown, Cleveland's Mike Brown, Dallas' Rick Carlisle, Milwaukee's Scott Skiles, Oklahoma City's Scott Brooks, Orlando's Stan Van Gundy and Portland's Nate McMillan.