The NBA has issued a $250,000 fine to the Cleveland Cavaliers for holding out All-Star guard Darius Garland during a nationally broadcast game in November, ruling that the decision breached the league’s player participation policy.

Garland is classified as a “star player” under the rules, which require healthy top-profile athletes to be available for marquee matchups. According to the league, the guard was capable of appearing in one game of the team’s back-to-back set on November 23 and 24 — but the Cavs chose to play him in the non-televised matchup instead.

“The violation occurred when the Cavaliers failed to make Garland available for the team’s nationally televised game on November 24 and instead made him available on November 23, which was not nationally televised,” the NBA said in a statement.

This is Cleveland’s second penalty of the season for breaching the policy. Earlier in November, the franchise was fined $100,000 after resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley against the Miami Heat.

The player participation policy was introduced ahead of the 2023-24 season as part of the league’s effort to reduce strategic sitting of healthy stars, particularly in major regular-season games, and maintain fan interest in prominent broadcasts.