NBA Fines Cavaliers $250,000 for Resting Garland in TV Game

The National Basketball Association fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 on Thursday for violating its player participation policy by resting All-Star guard Darius Garland during a nationally televised game against the Toronto Raptors on November 24.

The penalty stems from an investigation that determined Garland was fit to play in the matchup, which aired on Peacock in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada. Garland had participated the previous night in a non-televised home game against the Los Angeles Clippers on November 23, where the Cavaliers secured a 120-105 victory. The decision to sit him out against Toronto marked a violation of the league's rules aimed at ensuring star players are available for high-profile contests, particularly amid concerns over load management practices.

This is the second such fine for Cleveland this season. On November 18, the team was assessed $100,000 for holding out guards Donovan Mitchell and forward Evan Mobley in a November 12 game against the Miami Heat, which the Cavaliers won 130-116. Under the policy, a third infraction would result in a $1 million penalty, underscoring the league's increasing scrutiny on teams prioritizing...