MIAMI — Erik Spoelstra won the 800th game of his career Wednesday night, as the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 106-103 in an NBA Cup matchup.
Spoelstra became the 17th coach in NBA history with 800 wins and only the third to reach that total with one franchise in regular-season play, joining Gregg Popovich (1,390 with San Antonio) and Jerry Sloan (1,127 with Utah).
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“I guess it’s fitting that it came on the eve of Thanksgiving,” Spoelstra told reporters. “I just feel incredible gratitude for this organization and all of these years. I’m having a helluva time. I love what I do. I love coaching. I love this profession. I love working for this organization. I love working for, and with, amazing players and staff — too many to count over the years.”
Tyler Herro scored 29 points, and Bam Adebayo finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat.
Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Kel’el Ware added 11 points apiece for Miami, which improved to 3-1 in Cup games and 9-1 at home this season. It would win Group C if Milwaukee beats New York on Friday; if the Knicks win that game the Heat would need some help to reach the quarterfinals.
Ryan Rollins scored 26 points for Milwaukee, which got 24 from Myles Turner and 15 from Gary Trent Jr. The Bucks have dropped six straight, the last four of those without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Erik Spoelstra was all smiles while leading the Heat past the Bucks on Wednesday night in what was his 800th career win. AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
Milwaukee lost an NBA Cup group stage game for the first time; the Bucks — the event’s defending champion — were 10-0 in that round of games since the tournament, now in its third season, was added to the schedule. Bucks coach Doc Rivers was 8-0 in Cup games as a coach entering Wednesday.
Antetokounmpo missed a fourth consecutive game with a strained left adductor. But he went through some of shootaround Wednesday and did a pregame workout, indicators that he could be nearing a return.
“Even when he’s playing there’s a stretch where he’s not on the floor that we still have to master and we have not this year yet,” Rivers said. “So, I still think in the long run this stretch will be good for us.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
