The San Antonio Spurs are resting both Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for Thursday night’s nationally televised road 
game vs. the Golden State Warriors, initially putting themselves at risk of another six-figure fine from the NBA.
A release from Spurs media relations Thursday afternoon – titled an “injury report” – said both players were being held out of the game on TNT due to rest. It made no mention of injuries to either player.
The release also said guard Tony Parker would not play due to a bruised shin. That was announced earlier in the week, when the Spurs said Parker would miss at least two games with the injury and be re-evaluated prior to Saturday’s home showdown with Oklahoma City.
UPDATE: David Aldridge of TNT reported during the first quarter that the NBA will not fine the Spurs because they notified the league and the Warriors about the absence of Duncan and Ginobili at 1 p.m. local time, about 6 1/2 hours before tip-off.
Last season, the Spurs sent home Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Danny Green prior to a road game Nov. 29 vs. the Miami Heat, also on TNT. Commissioner David Stern acted swiftly, fining the Spurs $250,000 the following day for “resting players in a manner contrary to the best interests of the NBA.”
Despite missing four of their top players, the Spurs nearly beat the Heat, leading for much of the game but faltering down the stretch in a 105-100 loss.
The fine was an instance of Stern’s long history of showing that he cares more about image than substance.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich could have chosen to rest Duncan and Ginobili on Wednesday night at Phoenix. Or he could have rested Ginobili on Wednesday night and Duncan on Thursday night.
Duncan was rested on Nov. 11 at Philadelphia and was hardly missed in a 109-85 win. Ginobili has not been rested this season.