Why Were Cavs Fined $100K by NBA for Resting Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley?

The NBA is fining the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 for violating its Player Participation Policy after Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley were held out of the team's matchup against the Miami Heat on Nov. 12 for rest.

The Cavs rested Mitchell and Mobley on the first leg of a back-to-back, with the second leg coming the next night against the Toronto Raptors.

The NBA's scheduling has been a big storyline early in the 2025-26 season. The Philadelphia 76ers played four back-to-backs in their first 15 games, a rough stretch in particular for them given the amount of injuries they've dealt with early in the campaign.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, meanwhile, has been vocal about the difficult schedule the team has been asked to play to start the season.

"The Miami game will be our 17th game in 29 days in 13 different cities," he said Monday on 95.7 The Game. "It's been the toughest early schedule I've ever been a part of in my entire NBA life."

"I think our guys have held up remarkably well, but there's definitely some considerations to make with this back-to-back," he added of the team's matchups against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday and the Heat on Wednesday.

There has long been a contingency of fans and pundits who have wanted to see the season shortened, opening up the ability to remove back-to-backs and offer players more time to rest. The idea is that it would lessen the workload on players and perhaps make it less necessary to give players, especially stars, nights off for load management.

The NBA, of course, doesn't want fans buying tickets for games only to see the best players kept out, which is where the Player Participation Policy comes into play. And convincing team governors to reduce the schedule is also unlikely.

So for now, teams are left to balance keeping their players fresh and healthy while meeting the policy's requirements to avoid penalties.