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Associated Press
Apr 12, 2024, 11:50 AM ET
DALLAS — Kyrie Irving is listed as out for the Mavericks‘ regular-season home finale against the Pistons on Friday night, which will end the guard’s streak of 31 consecutive games played.
The designation for Irving, who has been on his longest stretch of games since 2015-16, is left hamstring soreness. Co-star Luka Doncic, the NBA scoring leader, is listed as questionable with left ankle soreness.
With two games remaining, the Mavericks are guaranteed to finish no lower than fifth in the Western Conference.
Dallas has a chance for the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round against the LA Clippers. The Mavericks would have to win their final two games while the Clippers lose twice.
Irving, 32, was acquired in a blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets last season, but his time with Doncic was limited by injuries in the two months together and the Mavericks missed the playoffs.
Injuries were an issue again for Irving this season, with a bruised heel and a sprained thumb combining to sideline him for 18 of 28 games from December to February.
Dallas was 26-23 when Irving returned from the thumb injury then went 24-7 with him in the lineup to surge from a spot in the play-in tournament to a guaranteed playoff berth among the top six in the West.