The Cleveland Cavaliers have been hit with a $250,000 fine after the NBA ruled they improperly rested All-Star guard Darius Garland during a nationally televised game in November — a clear violation of the league’s increasingly strict player participation policy.

According to the NBA, Garland — classified as a “star player" under the rules — was healthy enough to play in one of the team’s back-to-back games on Nov. 23 and 24.

The Cavs chose to use him in the Nov. 23 matchup against the LA Clippers, a non-national broadcast, and then held him out the following night in Toronto — a game aired nationally on Peacock in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada.

“The violation occurred when the Cavaliers failed to make Garland available for the team’s nationally televised game on November 24," the le

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