Jazz fined $500k by NBA for resting players; Pacers fined $100k

The NBA made its point. Loudly.

The Jazz were fined $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league tied to their games Feb. 7 at Orlando and Feb. 9 at Miami, the league announced.

At the center of it are Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., who both sat the entire fourth quarter of those games despite, per the league, being able to continue playing while the outcomes were still in doubt.

Utah led Orlando by seven entering the fourth quarter and lost by three. Two nights later, the Jazz led Miami by three entering the final period and still won by four. Neither result changed the league’s view.

Jackson’s situation provides context, though not enough to avoid discipline. He is set for season-ending knee surgery over the All-Star break.

According to The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Utah initially wanted to shut him down immediately after discovering the issue in his physical, but Jackson pushed to play at least one home game before the procedure. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor has reported similarly, describing the surgery as preventive.

Sources told Jones that Jackson was on a 25-minute restriction, which partially explains his absence late. It does not explain Markkanen, and that is where the league drew its line.

Jazz owner Ryan Smith publicly disagreed, responding on social media with an eye-roll emoji and adding, “Agree to disagree … Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …”

The league also fined the Pacers $100,000 for violating the player participation policy tied to a Feb. 3 game against Utah. Indiana sat Pascal Siakam and two other starters on the second night of a back-to-back, with the league stating all were able to play and that the team could have managed rest differently.

Commissioner Adam Silver left little room for interpretation.

“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” Silver said. “Additionally, we are working with our Competition Committee and Board of Governors to implement further measures to root out this type of conduct.”