Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 25, 1990 TAG: 9004250352
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Johnson and Worthy went through pregame warmups as did Mychal Thompson, another starter, but all three sat out and the result was predictable - a 130-88 victory by the Trail Blazers. It was the most one-sided defeat in Lakers history.
A statement issued in New York by NBA Commissioner David Stern said the Lakers were being fined "for failing to play two healthy players who are normally starters" in the game.
Thompson is the Lakers' starting center, but he was not mentioned in the statement, apparently because he missed four games earlier this month with a knee injury. He did play 23 minutes during the Lakers' 125-115 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.
"I think it was a very appropriate action for the commissioner to take," said Harry Glickman, the Blazers' president. "I hope that it sends a message to the Lakers and to all of us that you don't do those kinds of things."
Lakers coach Pat Riley said he rested the players because he didn't want to risk an injury to a significant player before Friday night's first-round playoff opener against the Houston Rockets.
In response to the league's action, the Lakers issued a statement saying that in addition to paying the fine, team owner Jerry Buss wished to apologize to Blazers fans.
In other basketball:
The NBA averaged 15,690 fans per game during the regular season, a 46 percent increase since the 1982-83 season. Total attendance, led by the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves, was 17,368,659, a 12.3 percent increase over last season.
by CNB