Comments on Kawhi’s health draw $50,000 fine
The NBA has fined the Los Angeles Clippers $ 50,000 for statements made by coach Doc Rivers and others that were “inconsistent with ( Kawhi) Leonard’s health status.”
Leonard sat out the Clippers’ 129-124 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
“I think Kawhi made a statement that he’s never felt better. It’s our job to make sure he stays that way. That’s important. But he played a lot of minutes in the playoffs last year,” Rivers said Wednesday. “So, it’s not, uh, a health thing really. It is in some ways. We want him to just keep feeling better and getting better.”
In a statement announcing the fine on Thursday, the league said it continued to believe that Leonard has an injury but questioned Rivers’ remarks.
“The NBA has confirmed that the team’s decision to sit Leonard for management of an injury was consistent with league rules,” the statement said. “The team has reasonably determined that Leonard is suffering from an ongoing injury to the patella tendon in his left knee and has been placed by the team at this time on an injury protocol for back-to-back games. The NBA has fined the Clippers $50,000 for statements, including by head coach Doc Rivers, that were inconsistent with Leonard’s health status.”
CELTICS HANDLE HORNETS IN WALKER’S RETURN TO CHARLOTTE »
Jayson Tatum scored 23 points, and Kemba Walker got a win in an emotional return to Charlotte as the Boston Celtics defeated the Hornets 108- 87. Walker received a rousing, one-minute standing ovation from the home crowd after the Hornets showed a highlight tribute on the videoboard that left the point guard in tears. The three-time AllStar is the franchise’s alltime leading scorer.
SIMMONS (SHOULDER) OUT, WILL BE RE-EVALUATED BEFORE SUNDAY’S GAME »
Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben
Simmons will miss today’s game at Denver because of sprained AC joint in his right shoulder.
Simmons will sit out against Denver and will be evaluated again before Sunday’s game against Charlotte. He was hurt Wednesday in Philadelphia’s loss at Utah.
PELICANS’ WILLIAMSON PROJECTS RETURN BEFORE MIDSEASON » Zion Williamson says he expects his absence from New Orleans Pelicans because of his knee injury to be less than half of the regular season but is offering no specific timetable for a return.
“It’s going very well, day by day, getting better,” the
No. 1 overall pick said after teammates finished practice Thursday. “No real timetable. When I’m ready, I’ll come back.”
When the 6- foot- 6, 285-pound Williamson had surgery on his torn right lateral meniscus Oct. 21, the Pelicans announced that his recovery was expected to last six to eight weeks.
GRIFFIN CLEARED FOR BASKETBALL- RELATED ACTIVITIES » Blake Griffin has been cleared by the Detroit Pistons’ medical staff for basketball-related activities, and the team says his progress will be monitored daily. Griffin hasn’t played at all this season because of hamstring and knee issues.