Rest Day Backfires: Cleveland Cavaliers Fined $250K Again For Sitting Darius Garland | Nba News

Cavs’ Darius Garland (X)

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been hit with a $250,000 fine after the NBA ruled they improperly rested All-Star guard Darius Garland during a nationally televised game in November — a clear violation of the league’s increasingly strict player participation policy.

According to the NBA, Garland — classified as a “star player” under the rules — was healthy enough to play in one of the team’s back-to-back games on Nov. 23 and 24.

The Cavs chose to use him in the Nov. 23 matchup against the LA Clippers, a non-national broadcast, and then held him out the following night in Toronto — a game aired nationally on Peacock in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada.

“The violation occurred when the Cavaliers failed to make Garland available for the team’s nationally televised game on November 24,” the league said in its statement.

This is the Cavs’ second fine of the season for a player-rest violation. Back on Nov. 18, the NBA docked Cleveland $100,000 for sitting both Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley in a Nov. 12 meeting with the Miami Heat, despite neither being listed with an injury.

The league’s participation policy — introduced ahead of the 2023–24 season — was designed to curb the growing trend of teams resting healthy stars, especially for marquee matchups and broadcast games that drive audience numbers and league revenue. In short: if you’re healthy and you’re a star, you’re expected to play.

Cleveland’s depth was tested anyway that night in Toronto. In addition to Garland sitting out, the team was without De’Andre Hunter (rest) and Jarrett Allen (sprained finger). The Raptors, riding a wave of early-season momentum, took full advantage, extending their win streak to eight games with a 110-99 victory.

(with agency inputs)

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December 05, 2025, 09:02 IST