Dallas Mavs to Sit Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving vs. OKC Thunder Among Other Players

The Mavs will not play Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving against the Thunder on Sunday, along with a many other rotation players.

Feb 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) talks with guard Luka / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

DALLAS — Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving sat out when the Dallas Mavericks were defeated by the Detroit Pistons on Friday, with the team already having clinched a top-five seed in the Western Conference without a likely chance to move up.

Dereck Lively II remained sidelined as he worked his way back from a right knee sprain but the rest of the team played. He rejoined the team on Friday

Feb 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) talks with guard Luka / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Without their superstar backcourt, the Mavs deployed Dante Exum and Tim Hardaway Jr. as starters next to the team's regular frontcourt options — Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington, and Daniel Gafford. The team used a minute restriction for each player, limiting them to only playing in the first half.

“Everybody is on a minute restriction," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. "No one was going to play more than the first half."

The Mavs plan to rest each of the players they started against the Pistons aside from Hardaway when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in their regular season finale.

"Four of the five starters from tonight won’t play in Oklahoma City. Timmy’s (Tim Hardaway Jr.) the only one that’s going to play. Understanding what we’re walking into in Oklahoma: they’re playing for the number one seed after Denver lost. We’ll be ready to go.”

The focus for the Mavs in their final regular season game will be the development of their young players, primarily Jaden Hardy and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Against the Pistons, Hardy totaled 25 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Prosper added 16 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one block.

“It’s very exciting. It’s very promising when you talk about [Jaden] Hardy and O-Max (OlivierMaxence Prosper), just the development," Kidd said.

With the Thunder still having an outlook to earn the top seed in the Western Conference, it will be a meaningful game for them, serving a a prime developmental opportunity for Hardy and Prosper, along with the rest of the team's other available players.

"Just the depth that you can see because those two didn’t get a lot of minutes this season because of our depth. Again, as we move forward with contracts or trades, you have that ability of those two young guys that can fill the spots if others are gone or hurt. Just understanding what those two are doing right now, being patient, waiting their turn.”

The Mavs already are locked into a first-round playoff matchup agains the Los Angeles Clippers, but the date for Game 1 has yet to be released. The series could begin as early as Apr. 20. If not, it'll take place on Apr. 21.