Mike Malone
Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, second from right, watches during a replay review by officials during the second half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat, Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Miami. At left are forward Jimmy Butler and guard Goran Dragic (7). (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
In Riley's mind, the first thing the Heat need is some rest

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 03, 2021 06:25 PM EDT

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots next to Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) during the second half of Game 1 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
A year after Finals, Lakers and Heat set to play before fans

By Tim Reynolds May. 26, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra watches a shot during the first half of Game 1 of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Unmasked: NBA coaches allowed to open playoffs without masks

By Tim Reynolds May. 22, 2021 11:58 AM EDT

Denver Nuggets' Aaron Gordon, left, shoots against Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, April 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Stephen Curry, Warriors welcome back fans and beat Nuggets

By Janie Mccauley Apr. 24, 2021 12:32 AM EDT

Philadelphia 76ers center Dwight Howard, left, defends as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic looks to take a shot in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 30, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Murray, Porter lead Nuggets past slow-starting 76ers 104-95

By Arnie Stapleton Mar. 30, 2021 11:25 PM EDT

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, works against Dallas Mavericks forward Tim Hardaway Jr. during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 13, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Doncic has 21 points, 12 assists, Mavs beat Nuggets 116-103

By Michael Kelly Mar. 14, 2021 01:51 AM EST

Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins, left, goes in for a basket as Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Trae Young, Clint Capela boost Hawks past Nuggets 123-115

By George Henry Feb. 21, 2021 10:16 PM EST

Cleveland Cavaliers' JaVale McGee (6) and Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) vie for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Murray's 50 points power Nuggets past crumbling Cavaliers

By Tom Withers Feb. 19, 2021 09:31 PM EST

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, left, shoots over Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) and guard Facundo Campazzo, center, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Brown scores 27, Celtics outlast Jokic, Nuggets 112-99

By Kyle Hightower Feb. 16, 2021 09:42 PM EST

Fans watch during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Miami. The Miami Heat allowed a limited number of fans to attend the game. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
In the NBA, there's not much home-court advantage these days

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 02, 2021 02:50 AM EST

Miami Heat forward KZ Okpala (4) listens to teammate Jimmy Butler during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Miami. Butler has missed multiple games because of the NBA's health and safety protocols. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Nuggets run away from short-handed Heat, 109-82

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 27, 2021 09:49 PM EST

Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7), forward Kelly Olynyk, center Bam Adebayo (13) and guard Duncan Robinson (55) watch during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Wizards see a 5th consecutive game postponed by virus issues

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 18, 2021 02:12 PM EST

Oklahoma City Thunder's Hamidou Diallo completes an alley-oop during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)
Rough road: Playing during pandemic means 'long days' in NBA

By Brian Mahoney And Tim Reynolds Jan. 13, 2021 03:04 AM EST

Denver Nuggets guard PJ Dozier shoots next to Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
Durant scores 34, Nets charge back from 18 down, top Nuggets

By Brian Mahoney Jan. 12, 2021 10:10 PM EST

Boston Celtics center Robert Williams III (44) dunks the ball over Miami Heat guards Avery Bradley (11) and Andre Iguodala (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Heat-Celtics game postponed by NBA due to virus protocols

By Tim Reynolds Jan. 10, 2021 04:57 PM EST

Philadelphia 76ers' Tony Bradley, left, and Paul Reed, right, look on from the bench as they are the only two players on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Denver tops short-handed 76ers hit with virus, injuries

By Dan Gelston Jan. 09, 2021 05:33 PM EST

Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid (21) shoots over Brooklyn Nets' Joe Harris (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Virus, injuries leave 76ers set to play with 7 players

Jan. 09, 2021 02:18 PM EST

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, right, drives to the rim past Sacramento Kings forward Nemanja Bjelica in the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Hield tip-in leads Kings to 124-122 overtime win in Denver

By Arnie Stapleton Dec. 24, 2020 12:05 AM EST

Houston Rockets guard James Harden, top center, joins the huddle during the fourth quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, in Houston. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle via AP)
OKC-Houston game postponed, Harden out after COVID violation

By Kristie Rieken Dec. 23, 2020 05:51 PM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2020, file photo, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reacts during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For NBA coaches, masks are required this season. Jackets are not. Rules for coaching attire will be relaxed by the league this year, though not as much as was the case during play at the bubble at Walt Disney World this past summer. Suit jackets or sport coats will not be required — but coaches won’t be able to wear the short-sleeved shirts that most donned for games in the bubble, either. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool, File)
NBA coaches attire: Masks are in, jackets are optional

By Tim Reynolds Dec. 08, 2020 07:55 PM EST