Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving Already Tabbed as Out for OKC Thunder Regular Season Finale

The Oklahoma City Thunder will face off with a short-handed squad for the third straight time to conclude the regular season on Sunday as Dallas will rest their stars.

Mar 17, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) celebrates with Dallas / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

While there is still a lot to be decided in the NBA Playoff picture, the matchup that is certain is the Dallas Mavericks battling the L.A. Clippers for the third time in the postseason. While the rest of the West shifts around them, those two squads are pegged as the No. 4 versus No. 5 matchup in the Western Conference.

With the matchup locked in, the Dallas Mavericks have elected to give their star duo, Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, the next two games off as the Mavericks battle the Pistons in Game 81 and Thunder in Game 82 without their leading scorers.

The Dallas Mavericks have ruled out Luka Doncic (left ankle soreness), Kyrie Irving (left hamstring soreness), and Dereck Lively II (right knee sprain) against the Detroit Pistons.

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) April 12, 2024

On the other hand, the Oklahoma City Thunder can still climb the Western Conference table, with their floor being set as the third seed in the Payoff picture, with some help they could be as high as the best in the West.

However, throughout the week the Thunder has been no stranger to getting rotational mainstays rest. Lu Dort sat out against the Spurs for that very reason and Chet Holmgren only made a first-half cameo and Josh Giddey (Hip) did not play in Friday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

It is unclear if the Thunder will rest players in their season finale, a lot will be determined by Friday's results around the association, but with a full week off before game one of the NBA playoffs and the week off Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams had just a week ago, the duo might just finish out the regular season unlike their Mavericks counterparts.

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