Mavericks hit with $750K fine for resting players in key game

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have been fined $750,000 by the NBA for «conduct detrimental to the league» after an investigation into the franchise's decision to sit out several key players for the April 7 loss that eliminated the team from play-in contention.

The NBA commenced an investigation the day after the Mavs rested All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., small forward Josh Green, power forward/center Christian Wood and power forward/center Maxi Kleber for the 115-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls. All-Star guard Luka Doncic played the first 12 minutes, 35 seconds before leaving the game.

Before the game, coach Jason Kidd cited «an organizational decision,» attributing it to Mavs governor Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison.

The league determined that the Mavericks «violated the NBA's player resting policy and demonstrated through actions and public statements the organization's desire to lose the game in order to improve the chances of keeping its first-round pick» in this draft, according to a news release from the NBA.

«The Dallas Mavericks' decision to restrict key players from fully participating in an elimination game last Friday against Chicago undermined the integrity of our sport,» NBA executive vice president/head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement from the league office. «The Mavericks' actions failed our fans and our league.»

The Mavs owe a top-10-protected pick to the New York Knicks as the final payment for the Kristaps Porzingis trade made in 2019. The loss to the Bulls broke a tie between the teams for the 10th-best odds in the draft lottery. Dallas protected those odds with a season-ending 138-117 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, a game in which