Dallas Mavericks eliminated from playoff contention in tanking loss to Bulls

The Dallas Mavericks knew what was on the line on Friday night, and decided to tank, and it worked as they lost to the Chicago Bulls 115-112 at the American Airlines Center. Dallas rested Kyrie Irving, Maxi Kleber, Christian Wood, Josh Green, and Tim Hardaway Jr. on Friday night. Luka Doncic played the first quarter and a few seconds into the second before being subbed out for the remainder of the game. It just did not work.

It was a back-and-forth game in the first quarter before Dallas took over in the second with 38 points. The Mavs held the lead until the final period when Chicago scored 30 to pull ahead and grab the win. The Bulls are now 39-42 as Dallas fell 38-43. It is the Mavericks that have the tenth-worst record in the league at the moment, and they are on pace to keep their draft pick.

It took some aggressive maneuvering as the Bulls rested their two best players, but Dallas found a way to lose on Friday night. Here is a look at what it means on April 7.

Dallas Mavericks eliminated from playoff contention in tanking loss to Bulls

Dallas needed to win their final two regular-season games, and the Thunder had to lose their final game for the Mavericks to finish tenth in the Western Conference. That is now out the window. The Thunder will be in the play-in tournament, and the Mavericks will be in the lottery.

Dallas now has a 79.8 percent to keep their first-round pick. They owe the selection to New York if it falls 11 through 30, but the Mavericks keep it if it is in the top ten after the lottery. A win would have meant the Mavs had the 11th-worst record and just an 8.5 percent chance of keeping their pick.

The Dallas Mavericks are likely to rest everyone in Sunday’s regular-season finale as they attempt to lose again. Stay tuned for all the latest.