The Dallas Mavericks consulted with the NBA league office last week before they announced a number of players would be unavailable for Friday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, sources tell Marc Stein of Substack.
The Mavericks remained mathematically alive for a Play-In spot when they decided to sit a number of players in the game against the Bulls, which was reportedly a clear indication that they decided to “prioritize lottery position.” The Mavericks keep their pick this year if it is in the top-10, but if it is 11 or lower it is conveyed to the New York Knicks.
The Utah Jazz were similarly still in contention for a Play-In spot as of last Thursday, but sat a number of key players and lost at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The NBA, however, announced they are investigating the Mavericks for how they shut down players for game 81.