Spurs stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili sat out the team’s Nov. 29 game against the Miami Heat, which one lawyer claims violated the state deceptive and fair trade practices law. (Ned Dishman/Getty Images)

Miami lawyer Larry McGuiness is suing the Spurs for benching their best players for a Nov. 29 prime-time game against the Miami Heat, alleging that the move violated the state’s deceptive and fair practices law, ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell reports.

In filing the class-action suit, McGuiness stated that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich “intentionally and surreptitiously” sent his best players home without the knowledge of the league, team and attending fans.

The team was fined $250,000 by commissioner David Stern the day after the game, which San Antonio lost by just five points despite playing without starters Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Danny Green.

McGuinness contends that he, as well as other fans, “suffered economic damages” as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket that shouldn’t cost more.

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It’s often assumed that fans might not see certain high-profile players because of injury, but McGuinness said this was different, given that all of the top players were not available to play.

David Stern defended his $250,000 fine for the Spurs in a statement this week. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

NBA commissioner David Stern defended the $250,000 fine that he issued to the San Antonio Spurs last week for head coach Gregg Popovich’s decision to send home three of his starters and one key reserve player hours before the team tipped-off in Miami against the Heat.

According to a report Wednesday from John Reid of NOLA.com, Stern said if this incident wasn’t the right time to make a statement about a team not notifying the league about a roster change, then he’s not sure when would be a good time:

“The organization agreed they would take away four players, including a 26-year-old and a 30-year-old – their four best players. And they did it without notifying the league or the media the way they’re supposed to for injury and illness. That, and the totality of all the circumstances, if this wasn’t the appropriate time for exercising the discretion then there would never be an appropriate time. This is not about the coach, I’m fine with Pop. [Th]is is not about a coaching decision,” Stern said. “This is more about the relationship among our 30 teams and 30 owners.”

Popovich had sent home Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and bench player Danny Green and the team still managed to make it a close game against last year’s champions. The Heat ended up winning 105-100. Popovich said he made the decision in July, when each NBA received its schedule, because he wanted his players well-rested for a home game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 1 after ending November with a six-game road trip that finished in Miami.

Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers defended Popovich, saying that a coach has to look out for his team over the course of an entire season. Our own Chris Mannix wrote about the precedent Stern is now setting by issuing the fine, questing the commissioner’s timing given that teams have been resting starters on certain games for years and said that the NBA has now opened a Pandora’s Box with this action.

With Mike Krzyzewski stepping down as USA Basketball coach, the top reported candidates to replace him include Doc Rivers and Gregg Popovich. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images)

Mike Krzyzewski has said he will step down after Team USA won its second consecutive Olympic gold medal with him leading the way as head coach. And it appears that Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Gregg Popovich are two leading candidates to replace Krzyzewski on the bench, ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reported Sunday. From Stein’s report:

Sources close to the situation told ESPN.com that Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich have indeed already moved to the top of the list to take over in 2013 for Krzyzewski, who is expected to remain with the program as a top aide to Colangelo if he can’t be convinced to extend his coaching tenure.

Sources say Louisville coach Rick Pitino has also expressed strong interest in the position, but the general expectation in USAB circles is that Krzyzewski will be succeeded by an NBA coach.

Nevertheless, program chairman Jerry Colangelo and USA players plan to try to convince Krzyzewski to stick around for one more shot.

“I’m sure we can get him to come back,” Kevin Durant told Stein. But Colangelo wasn’t as optimistic.

“Chances are not,” he said. But we’ll have to have that conversation on an official basis. He’s said this is it and I’ll respect his choice. But knowing me as I know me, I’ll have that conversation and we’ll see.”