Overview
- The league ruled Cleveland violated the policy by playing Darius Garland on Nov. 23 vs. the Clippers and not making him available for the nationally televised Nov. 24 game at Toronto on Peacock.
- This is the Cavaliers’ second infraction this season after a prior $100,000 fine for sitting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley against Miami.
- Penalties escalate under the policy, with a third violation projected to cost approximately $1.25 million.
- Garland is returning from offseason toe surgery and has been held out of back-to-backs, a cautious approach coach Kenny Atkinson has publicly defended as prioritizing player health.
- Cleveland is 13-10 and seventh in the East, having beaten the Clippers 120-105 with Garland before falling 110-99 to the Raptors without him.