NEW YORK –The Chicago Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau and the San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich each were named Coach of the Month for the second time this season, winning the award for games played in March.
Thibodeau led the Bulls to a league-best 13-3 (.813) record including a league-leading 6-0 mark on the road, holding opponents to a league-low 43 percent shooting. Thibodeau recorded his 100th career win on March 19 at Orlando (86-59), his 131st game as head coach, becoming the fastest coach in NBA history to reach 100 wins.
Popovich guided the Spurs to a Western Conference-best 12-3 (.800) record in March, including a seven-game winning streak to close the month and victories in nine of the team’s last 10 games. During the month, the Spurs ranked first in the NBA with 107.1 points per game, nearly six points above their season average of 101.4. San Antonio went 4-1 on the road, including a 114-105 win March 16 at Oklahoma City, only the Thunder’s third home loss.
Thibodeau also won the award in January/December, and Popovich won it in February.
Other winners this season have been Scott Brooks (January/December) and Erik Spoelstra (February)
Other nominees for the March award were Brooks, Doc Rivers of Boston, Alvin Gentry of Phoenix and Mike Woodson of the Knicks.
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