Riley’s Decision to Bench Top Players Reviewed : Basketball: NBA commissioner considers action against Lakers coach over move in season finale.

NBA Commissioner David Stern is reviewing a decision by Los Angeles Lakers coach Pat Riley to bench three of his top players for Sunday’s finale at Portland.

Riley held out all-stars Magic Johnson and James Worthy along with veteran Mychal Thompson, saying afterward that the game was insignificant. Los Angeles suffered its worst loss ever, 130-88.

“The commissioner is going to have something to say about it,” said Rod Thorn, the NBA’s vice president for operations.

He confirmed that the league levied fines in 1985 when Riley held Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson out of a season-ending game at Kansas City.

Trail Blazers President Harry Glickman criticized Riley’s move Sunday night. Glickman said the Trail Blazers received a number of calls from fans Monday about the decision.

Riley rested most of his starters Sunday in preparation for post-season competition. The Lakers, with the NBA’s best record, will meet the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs beginning Friday at the Forum.

“The only thing I can tell you is we’ve been in touch with the league about it, and they plan to make an announcement,” Glickman said.

Portland sold out Memorial Coliseum for the game and sold tickets at two sports bars and a downtown theater to more fans.

The game was also offered to Trail Blazers’ fans on a pay-per-view basis on a local cable television service.

The Lakers played the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, and Riley used his players in a normal fashion.

The victory was Portland’s 59th of the season, setting a franchise record.

Portland opens the playoffs Thursday against Dallas.