Giving the Spurs their best possible chance of
winning tonight's key Southwest Division game in
the AT&T Center against the Memphis Grizzlies
has cost coach Gregg Popovich's team $250,000.
Concluding that Popovich's decision to hold four
key players out of Thursday's game against the
Heat in Miami "did a disservice to the league and
our fans," NBA commissioner David Stern
announced the hefty fine Friday evening.
Only five times in league history has a larger fine
been levied on a team or individual, though
several players have received lengthy
suspensions that cost them more in lost wages.
There was no immediate reaction from the Spurs
organization. The club isn't expected to appeal
because Stern is the final arbiter of punitive
action.