NBA: Mavericks could sit Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving in final week
FILE––Kyrie Irving #2 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks react against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on April 02, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
The Dallas Mavericks have a flicker of hope of competing in the play-in tournament but could choose to shut down stars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving anyway, per a FanDuel TV report Monday.
The Mavericks (37-42) are in 11th place in the Western Conference, a game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, and only finishers in seventh through 10th place qualify for the play-in round.
Article continues after this advertisementHowever, with just three games left in the season and with the Thunder holding the tiebreaker between the two, the Mavericks might see value in not pushing for the play-in spot.
The Mavericks owe the Knicks a first-round draft pick from the Kristaps Porzingis trade in January of 2019, but it’s protected if it turns out to be a top-10 pick. Teams that don’t make the playoffs will each be in the top 10 of the draft order.
Dallas is off until Wednesday when the playoff-bound Sacramento Kings visit. The Mavericks finish the regular season with two more home games — the Chicago Bulls on Friday and San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.
Article continues after this advertisementThe Mavericks acquired Irving in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 6, and he was supposed to team with Doncic to push the team in the playoff race. They were 29-26 that day, meaning they are just 8-16 since — 7-12 with Irving in the lineup.
