Mavericks’ Nelsons Are Suspended

Dallas Maverick Coach Don Nelson and assistant Donnie Nelson were suspended for the season’s first two games by the NBA, which also fined the team $150,000 Friday for contact with players who were ineligible for the draft.

The Nelsons went to two private workouts in June in Yugoslavia.

It was the ninth time Dallas has been fined (for a total of $1,155,000) since January 2000, when Mark Cuban bought the team.

“We think the fine and punishment was excessive,” said Cuban, who said the coaches were only observing players, not supervising their workouts.

Cuban declined to say who the players were.

Assistant Del Harris likely will coach the first two games, Oct. 30 at Memphis, and Nov. 2 against Phoenix.