Spoelstra, Popovich named Coaches of the Month

NEW YORK -- The Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra and the San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich today were named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month, respectively for games played in February.

Spoelstra guided the Heat to a league-best 11-2 (.846) record and finished the month on an eight-game winning streak, with all eight wins coming by double figures. The 11 wins and .846 winning percentage each rank second all-time for the Heat in the month of February. With three consecutive victories from Feb. 12-14 at Atlanta, Milwaukee and Indiana, the Heat became the first team to win road games on three straight nights since the Phoenix Suns in 1979.

Popovich led the Spurs to an 11-2 record, tying the Heat for the most wins in February. Including their last game in January, the Spurs rattled off an 11-game winning streak, including eight straight road victories, placing them atop the Southwest division. The Spurs had just four home games in February, winning three, and posted an 8-1 mark away from AT&T Center.

Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Chicago's Tom Thibodeau, Detroit's Lawrence Frank, Memphis' Lionel Hollins, Oklahoma City's Scott Brooks, Orlando's Stan Van Gundy and New York's Mike D'Antoni.