:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4141439/20121020_gav_su8_212.0.jpg)
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has decided to rest his aging core of players and has sent home starters Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and Tony Parker ahead of their matchup against the Miami Heat tonight.
In addition, Danny Green will also join them on the early flight home which means four the top five scorers on the team will not be counted on to face the world champions.
More good news for Heat fans is that second-year swingman Kawhi Leonard and veteran Stephen Jackson will not play either due to injury, giving the Spurs just 9 players for the game at the AmericanAirlines Arena.
The NBA will reportedly not sanction the Spurs, who are wrapping up a six-game road trip that included last night's victory against the Orlando Magic.
The Heat and Spurs will tip off at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on TNT and Sun Sports.