Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn speaks with head coach Erik Spoelstra during the second half of an NBA game against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 3, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
Miami Heat associate head coach Chris Quinn is already well known in NBA coaching circles. Quinn is the longest-tenured assistant on head coach Erik Spoelstra’s Heat coaching staff and has played a major role in the Heat’s highly regarded player development program.
But for those who didn’t know about Quinn’s coaching resume, Spoelstra made sure to let everybody know that Quinn was behind the game-winning side-out-of-bounds play that led to the Heat’s overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday at Kaseya Center.
“I’ve had that play on my card listed as ‘CQ’ for four years,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat using Quinn’s initials for the play name. “So, when it got to that point, Quinny said: ‘Hey, we should run that.’ I said, you know what, there’s no better person to diagram it than the one who came up with the dang thing. So I just had him diagram the play.”
Quinn’s play had Heat guard Norman Powell sprinting by Heat teammates Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell to the three-point line as a decoy to force the Cavaliers’ defense to overreact and leave the back end of the play open. Davion Mitchell then set a solid back screen on Wiggins’ defender, and Wiggins sprinted toward wide open space into the paint before catching a perfectly thrown inbounds lob from Nikola Jovic for the game-winning dunk to break a 138-138 tie as the final overtime buzzer sounded on Monday.
“I’m super lucky to work for someone as humble as Spo who gives credit to others,” Quinn said following Tuesday’s practice in Miami, ahead of the Heat’s second matchup against the Cavaliers in three days on Wednesday night at Kaseya Center. “Even though, obviously, he’s the major part of everything we do.
“Obviously, him and the rest of the coaching staff, we spend a lot of time throwing ideas off of each other. Certainly late-game execution is always a fun one, if you’re in a coach’s meeting or a coach’s office. So these are things we’re always discussing with one another, and definitely grateful to be working for someone like Spo.”
Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn looks on during the second half of an NBA game against the Washington Wizards at Kaseya Center on March 3, 2025, in Miami. D.A. Varela dvarela@miamiherald.com
“CQ” is a play that has been in the Heat’s late-game arsenal for a few years, but Quinn and the coaching staff have tweaked the play over time to create different variations of it.
“Like most plays, they’re a version of a play you saw somewhere else,” Quinn said. “You make small changes, either that you like or to fit personnel. So we saw it years ago, and we kind of have tweaked it slightly and used it in the right situations at the end of the game when something like that is needed.”
Quinn, 42, is in his 12th season as a Heat coach. Quinn has been considered for different head coaching vacancies around the league in recent years, but he’s still waiting for his first opportunity to be an NBA head coach.
Quinn also played for the Heat. The six-year NBA guard was signed by Miami as a free agent during the 2006 offseason, appearing in 168 games (26 starts) with the Heat over three-plus seasons from 2006 to 2010 and playing for both Pat Riley and Spoelstra.
“I think it’s more the Heat specials. We have some tucked away,” Quinn said when asked if there are more “CQ” side-out-of-bounds specials waiting to be used. “I think every year is a learning experience. Some years we’ve been better in clutch situations than others. We’re always trying to grow and develop, specifically in the offseason.
“We come up with things that, if we need a two, if we need a three, if we need a lob. Obviously, whatever time is on the clock is of utmost importance. 2.4 seconds, or maybe there are five seconds, ten seconds — these situations that happen all the time in the NBA. So, we’re always trying our best to be the best at those situations.”
But the “CQ” play that the Heat executed to perfection to earn Monday’s overtime win over the Cavaliers may not be among the top late-game options anymore after putting it on film for opponents to watch.
“I’m not sure we’ll be able to use it again,” Quinn said with a laugh.
INJURY REPORT
Both the Heat and Cavaliers will be without some of their best players for Wednesday’s matchup in Miami.
Bam Adebayo (left big toe sprain) will miss his fourth straight game for the Heat on Wednesday against the visiting Cavaliers.
The Heat also remains without Tyler Herro (left ankle surgery), Terry Rozier (not with team), Myron Gardner (G League) and Jahmir Young (G League) against the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers ruled out Darius Garland (toe injury management), Donovan Mitchell (rest), Mobley (rest), Max Strus (left foot surgery) and Jaylon Tyson (concussion).