NBA Announces Cavaliers' Punishment Decision Before Rockets Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Kevin Matthew Borba | Last updated Nov 18, 2025 4:38 PM ET

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and are sitting in second place in the East while also having the fifth-best record in the NBA.

Following the team's 118-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, the team sits just 2.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in the East. However, on Tuesday, the Cavs found themselves on the wrong side of an NBA disciplinary announcement for something the team knowingly did during its Nov. 12 130-116 victory against the Miami Heat. The fine comes as a result of them violating the Player Participation Policy.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45).© David Richard-Imagn Images

Announced via the NBA's communications page, it was revealed that the team was fined $100,000 for violating the aforementioned policy by resting Donovan Mitchell or Evan Mobley, who are considered stars.

"The NBA announced today that the Cleveland Cavaliers have been fined $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy," read the statement. "The violation occurred when the Cavaliers held Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, who are both star players under the Policy, out of the team’s game against the Miami Heat on Nov. 12 for rest."

Ahead of the 2023-24 season, the NBA implemented rules that prevent teams from resting players who have made an All-Star or an All-NBA team in any of the previous three seasons if they are healthy.

NBA teams resting stars has been an epidemic over the past few seasons, but it has been especially noticeable this year. Yahoo Sports' Tom Haberstroh reported on Tuesday that NBA stars are missing twice as many games as they did two seasons ago.

NEW @YahooSports: NBA Star players are missing twice as many games as they did in 2023-24. Wemby, Ja now out tonight on NBC.

It's gotten so bad that nearly half of all NBA stars are injured now: pic.twitter.com/ZZ31NlAqgG
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) November 18, 2025

While there are rules in place, it's clear that the NBA may need to head back to the drawing board to determine how to best nip this issue in the bud.

As for the Cavs, they will host the Houston Rockets on Wednesday evening in a game that tips at 7:00 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: