Mavs turn focus to Kyrie Irving after reserve-filled loss to Spurs

DALLAS (AP) —Kyrie Irving sat for the last two games as part of a plan by theDallas Mavericks to get back a draft pick sent to the New YorkKnicks in a trade four years ago.

Now they waitto see if the eight-time All-Star will re-sign in free agency, orbe a failed two-month rental from ablockbuster deal withBrooklyn.

“I think Isaid this before, he’s at peace,” coach Jason Kidd said, strikingan optimistic tone after Irving declined to meet with reporters fora season-ending interview. “He likes it here.”

The Mavs satIrving and five other regulars in a meaningless, reserve-filledfinale against San Antonio on Sunday, losing 138-117 to SandroMamukelashvili and the Spurs.

Irving andfellow All-Star Luka Doncic were among those who didn’t playwithDallas being investigated by theNBAfor similar roster decisions two days earlier againstChicago.

The Mavericksstill had a shot at the final Western Conference play-in spotbefore blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter of a loss tothe Bulls.

The Spurs satnine players, but they’ve been out of contention for months andwere already locked in to the best draft lottery odds at 14%, alongwith Detroit and Houston, in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.

The loss gaveDallas the 10th-worst record and lottery chances of 4.5%, which ispart of the reason the NBA opened an investigation when Doncic waspulled early and Irving and four other regulars didn’t play at allagainst Chicago.

The Mavs andBulls were tied for the 10th-best record going into the game.Dallas gets the pick if it’s in the top 10, but otherwisesurrenders it to the Knicks from Dallas’ 2019 trade for KristapsPorzingis.

The pickwould give Dallas a bit of collateral if Irving decides not tore-sign.

The mercurialIrving said when he was introduced in Dallas after the trade thathe didn’t want to talk about his future until after the season.When that time came, he still wasn’t talking.

The Mavs werein the middle of the playoff race when they created the first pairof All-Star starters in franchise history, but Doncic and Irvingwere just 5-11 together with both missing multiple games because ofinjuries.

Dallas wonits first two games with Irving but went 7-18 the rest of the way,missing the playoffs for the first time since Doncic’s rookie yearin 2018-19 after reaching the West finals last season.

“I know youguys will talk about the record, which is fair and not fair,between the two players of Luka and (Irving),” Kidd said. “Butthere’s also other participants. So let’s put everybody in thatfish bowl, not just those two. He’s excited to work with Luka. Hebelieves that we have a chance to win.”

Doncic hasthree years remaining before the player option on the $215 millionrookie max extension he signed two summers ago. He said he wants tosee where the superstar pairing can go.

“I wish wecould continue that chemistry, relationship,” said Doncic, whofinished second in the scoring race at a career-best 32.4 pointsper game. “It’s not going to happen in a day, in a week. It’s abuilding process.”

Mamukelashvili had 23 points. Dominick Barlow scored 21 points, andMalaki Branham added 20 for the Spurs.

Rookie JadenHardy led Dallas with 25 points, and Theo Pinson had atriple-double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.

The Spursended a seven-game losing streak against Dallas, leading by as manyas 31 points in the first half.

The Mavericksstarted three players for the first time this season, with theother two having just eight starts between them. Of the 17 playersin the game for both teams, 15 scored in double figures.

TEXAS3 MISSTEP

The Dallasloss to Chicago clinched the first NBA season in which all threeTexas teams missed the playoffs. The Mavs were the last of thethree to join the league, in 1980-81.

Houston andSan Antonio were buried at the bottom of the West standings formonths. The Spurs missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutiveseason after qualifying the previous 22 years. The Rockets are on athree-year drought.