The NBA has opened an investigation into the Dallas Mavericks for their apparent failure in Friday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
«The NBA today began an investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the Dallas Mavericks roster decisions and the conduct of the game with respect to last night’s Chicago Bulls-Mavericks game, including the motivations behind those actions,» league spokesman Mike Bass said.
(Left to right) Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr. sit courtside during the game against the Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Center on April 7, 2023 in Dallas , Texas. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
On Friday, the Mavericks announced that Kyrie Irving and four major contributors would be left out of the game against the Bulls.
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Head coach Jason Kidd said star Luka Doncic would play only one quarter, and the four-time All-Star was removed from the game after fouling early in the second quarter.
Before Friday’s game, Dallas still had a slim chance of clinching a spot in the NBA play-in tournament with only two games left, but without their key players, the Mavericks lost to the Bulls, eliminating Dallas from the postseason.
Jason Kidd, head coach of the Dallas Mavericks on the sideline during the game against the Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Center on April 7, 2023, in Dallas, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Mavs, who made a move for Irving at the NBA trade deadline in February, still owe him a protected top-10 draft pick to The New York Knicks, stemming from his 2019 trade for Kristaps Porzingis
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Missing the playoffs helps Dallas in its quest to get and keep a top 10 selection in the 2023 draft, giving them at least a chance to draft French phenom Victor Wembanyama.
«We were fighting for our lives and understanding that this is a situation that we find ourselves in, but the organization made the decision to change,» Mavs coach Jason Kidd said during his pregame media availability, according to ESPN. . «So, you know, we have to go by that, and that’s something that happens. So the guys that are playing, we have to go out there and do our best, and we talked about that this afternoon.»
«And the guys that are playing are going to go out there and try to play to win. You have to be professional. You can’t cheat at the game.»
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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban reacts during a timeout in the game against the Golden State Warriors at the American Airlines Center on March 22, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Kidd said the decision to seat the players was made by owner Mark Cuban and general manager Nico Harrison.
«Those are my bosses, so yeah,» Kidd said when asked if he agreed with the decision.
Associated Press contributed to this report.