Pelicans, Sixers fined by NBA for injury report violations

The Pelicans were fined $25,000 for failing to include guard/forward Trey Murphy III on the injury report for Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Sixers received a steeper penalty of $75,000 for failing to include All-Star center Joel Embiid on the injury report “in an accurate and timely manner” in Saturday’s road loss to the Denver Nuggets.

Embiid came back and attempted to play vs. the Golden State Warriors, then suffered a left knee injury. Sixers coach Nick Nurse said after the game that the injury was unrelated to a left knee issue that held out Embiid previously.

The league has cracked down on injury reports and guys sitting out games this season, and to some controversy. Players must play in at least 65 games to be eligible for postseason awards (and the financial bonuses that often come with it).

While the league office has taken some heat for this, it’s a rule that was agreed upon by the NBA Players Association.