Kyrie Irving’s run of 31 straight games played will come to an end on Friday night when the Dallas Mavericks face Detroit at home in the regular season finale.
Irving has been out with left hamstring strain for the longest run of games he has played since 2015–16. NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic, who is also a co-star, is also classified as doubtful due to left ankle pain.
The Mavericks will undoubtedly finish in the top five spots in the Western Conference with two games left.
Dallas can play the Los Angeles Clippers for home-court advantage and the No. 4 seed in the first round. Mavs would need to win their next two games while Los Angeles drops its next two.
After signing a blockbuster contract with Brooklyn the previous season, Irving and Doncic had a limited amount of time together due to injuries, and the Mavericks were unable to make it to the playoffs.
Irving’s injuries plagued him once more this season, missing 18 of 28 games from December to February due to a sprained thumb and a bruised heel.
After Irving recovered from his thumb injury, Dallas was 26-23. With him back in the starting lineup, the team went 24-7 and advanced from a play-in tournament slot to a sure postseason berth among the top six in the West.
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