NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets were fined $25,000 “for failure to comply with league policies governing injury reporting,” the NBA announced Thursday.
The fines came after the Nets rested Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and a slew of other players on December 10, the second straight night for Brooklyn. The Nets ended up resting eight players, including Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Seth Curry, Royce O’Neale, Joe Harris and TJ Warren.
The Nets ended up winning the game briefly, picking up an impressive 136-133 victory over Indiana despite missing their entire rotation.
At the time, coach Jacque Vaughn said the Nets were capable of what they did because the injury had been previously documented.
“I think everything that was reported today has been documented,” Vaughn said before the game against the Pacers last week. “So we know that Seth [Curry] and Joe [Harris] have an offseason ankle [surgeries], there is no argument for that. Good [Claxton] didn’t play the last game because he has a hamstring injury, no argument for that. Kevin led the league in minutes, there’s no argument for that. Royce [O’Neale] had personal reasons, he missed the next game, there’s no argument for that.”
Vaughn also offered an apology to fans in Indiana who had paid to watch Durant play — only to find out hours before the game that he wouldn’t be on the court.
“I will say to those fans that I am looking forward to the future for Kevin Durant,” Vaughn said. “I’m looking forward to the future of the organization. And I’m really sorry if this is the game you choose. But he’s given everything he’s got in every game since the start of this season.”
