NBA to investigate why Dallas Mavericks left out key players for defeat

Dallas Mavericks proprietor Mark Cuban (centre) watched the Chicago Bulls crippled courtside adjacent to Kyrie Irving and Tim Hardaway Jr

The Dallas Mavericks are facing an NBA probe aft leaving retired cardinal players against the Chicago Bulls contempt being successful play-off contention.

The nonaccomplishment ended their play-off hopes but improved their chances of getting a top-10 prime successful this summer's draft.

That led to accusations of 'tanking' - playing a weakened broadside successful bid to suffer and amended their draught chances.

"The NBA commenced an probe contiguous into the facts and circumstances surrounding the Dallas Mavericks' roster decisions and crippled behaviour with respect to past night's Chicago Bulls-Mavericks game, including the information down those actions," NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said connected Saturday.

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A little decorativeness successful the wide standings gives the Mavericks a amended accidental of a top-10 prime successful the draft, boosting their hopes of signing highly-rated French teen Victor Wembanyama.

Dallas said Irving, Tim Hardaway Jr and Maxi Kleber were each nursing injuries portion Josh Green and Christian Wood were being rested. All 5 players - positive Doncic - featured successful Wednesday's triumph implicit the Sacramento Kings.

Coach Jason Kidd said earlier the crippled that the determination to remainder players was made by proprietor Mark Cuban and wide manager Nico Harrison.

Speaking aft the game, Kidd said: "It's not truthful overmuch waving the achromatic flag. It's [that] decisions sometimes are hard successful this business. We're trying to physique a title team. With this decision, this is possibly a measurement back. But hopefully it leads to going forward."

Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards top-scored with 33 points arsenic the Minnesota Timberwolves secured astatine slightest a ninth-place decorativeness successful the Western Conference with a 151-131 triumph implicit the San Antonio Spurs connected Saturday.

Utah Jazz are retired of play-off contention but ended their location play with a 118-114 triumph implicit the Denver Nuggets, who person already clinched the fig 1 play-off effect successful the Western Conference.

Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points arsenic the Los Angeles Clippers bushed the Portland Trail Blazers 136-125 to determination into 5th spot successful the Western Conference with the aforesaid grounds arsenic reigning champions the Golden State Warriors.

Their combat to debar the play-in for the seventh-10th-placed teams volition travel down to the last time of the regular play connected Sunday, erstwhile each NBA squad volition beryllium successful action.