Mavs eliminated from playoffs after resting Doncic during loss to Bulls

The Dallas Mavericks rested Luka Doncic following the first quarter of their 115-112 loss to the Chicago Bulls during their penultimate game of the season on Friday.

The Mavs' loss eliminated them from postseason contention, allowing the Oklahoma City Thunder to secure the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said Doncic wouldn't play the final game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and confirmed the decision came from team management.

"We all said that we want to have the opportunity to find a way to get in (the playoffs). And we're going to play until told otherwise," Kidd said pregame, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "And today is the day that we've been told that we're going to do something different. And so he's going to participate in the first quarter, and then he's done for the season."

Doncic played the entirety of Friday's opening frame, dropping 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

The Mavs needed to beat the Bulls and Spurs and hope the Thunder drop their final game of the season against the Memphis Grizzlies to squeeze into the final play-in spot.

Dallas is hovering around the No. 10 spot in the draft lottery. The team would be forced to hand its pick to the New York Knicks if it falls outside the top 10.

The Mavericks were without Kyrie Irving, Tim Hardaway, Christian Wood, Maxi Kleber, and Josh Green against the Bulls, many for resting purposes.

Dallas hosted its annual "I Feel Slovenia Night" on Friday, which might have been the reason Doncic suited up at all.

An abbreviated showing all but guarantees Doncic won't pass Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid for the league lead in points per game. Embiid sits at 33.1 points a night, while Doncic is in second at 32.7.