NBA fines Sixers $100k for violating injury rules with Joel Embiid
The league says Embiid initially was listed as out on the injury report but played against the Thunder on Thursday.
MIAMI — The 76ers once again were fined for violating the NBA’s injury reporting rules regarding Joel Embiid.
This time, the league fined them $100,000 on Friday for failure to accurately disclose Embiid’s availability before Tuesday’s 109-105 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Wells Fargo Center.
The reigning MVP was listed as out in the initial report and remained that way until being upgraded to questionable about one hour, 45 minutes before the game. Embiid subsequently played in the game, which wasn’t surprising.
» READ MORE: Sixers mailbag: ‘Now that Joel Embiid is back, is this the year?’
Embiid had been practicing with the Sixers days prior with the intention of playing in the game, according to sources. And moments after he was upgraded to questionable, there was a report stating he intended to play in the game.
The hefty fine takes into account the Sixers’ history of violating injury report rules.
They last were fined on Feb. 1 after Embiid’s late scratch on Jan. 27 before tipoff of a 111-105 loss to the Denver Nuggets. That time, Embiid’s absence was a surprise to the Nuggets and didn’t sit well with Denver coach Mike Malone.