DALLAS -- The NBA slapped the San Antonio Spurs with a $250,000 fine Friday for not bringing four of their players to Thursday night's national televised game in Miami against the Heat.
The Spurs left Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Danny Green in San Antonio because it was their fourth game in five days, and they felt the players needed the rest. NBA commissioner David Stern described the Spurs' actions as something that "did a disservice to the league and our fans.''
Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle issued a comment about the Spurs' situation following Friday's practice at American Airlines Center. But the statement was issued before the NBA laid the hammer on the Spurs.
"As president of the NBA Coaches Association, I am always going to work to protect coaches and decisions coaches make to protect their teams,'' Carlisle said. "The NBA will undoubtedly examine all the facts before making any decision on this matter.
"The fact that SA played such a great game and were in position to win with their depth players is extremely impressive.''
The Heat rallied to defeat the Spurs, 105-100, in a very entertaining game. But that wasn't the point, as far as Stern was concerned.
"The result here is dictated by the totality of the facts in this case," Stern said in a statement. "The Spurs decided to make four of their top players unavailable for an early-season game that was the team's only regular season visit to Miami.
"The team also did this without informing the Heat, the media, or the league office in a timely way. Under these circumstances, I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans."
-- Dwain Price
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@dwainprice
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