Jazz fined $500K for sitting Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. at end of recent games

The NBA has fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 for sitting two of their best players in the fourth quarter of two recent games, even though both were healthy enough to play in the first three quarters and both games were in doubt.

Earlier this week, the Jazz substituted Lauri Markkanen and the newly acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. for good before the fourth quarter of close games against the Orlando Magic on Feb. 7 and the Miami Heat on Feb. 9. They lost the game against Orlando after leading by seven points entering the final frame and defeated Miami. The league deemed this “conduct detrimental to the league” in issuing the fine.

“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in the league’s news release.

Utah has an 18-37 coming into Thursday’s action, the sixth-worst mark in the league. If Utah’s pick falls outside the top 8, it will transfer to the Oklahoma City Thunder. If it stays in the top 8, it will convert into a 2028 second-round pick.

The NBA also fined the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy by sitting recent (and current) All-Star Pascal Siakam in a Feb. 3 game against the Jazz.