Dallas Mavs Lose to Detroit Pistons Without Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving

The Mavs played the Pistons without Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the lineup but fell short as they already have a top five seed clinched for the playoffs.

DALLAS — Without Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving in the lineup, the Dallas Mavericks were defeated 107-89 by the Detroit Pistons on Friday. With the Mavs already locked into a top-five seed, it was expected that both superstars would receive the opportunity to rest.

“I thought everybody played well. No one got hurt," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. "We played everybody."

Irving was already outright ruled out with left hamstring soreness, while Doncic was downgraded from questionable to out due to left ankle soreness. Dereck Lively II remained sidelined with left ankle soreness, as expected, with him likely missing the rest of the regular season. Despite not playing, Irving participated in a pre-game on-court workout to stay sharp before the postseason.

Apr 12, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (18) and Detroit

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With a shorthanded group, the Mavs were able to take advantage of player development opportunities for personnel who typically do not receive playing time at the NBA level. Jaden Hardy led the Mavs with 25 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 29 minutes of action. Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 16 points, six rebounds, two steals, and one block.

"There were a lot of good things. O-Max (Olivier-Maxence Prosper) I thought was great," Kidd said. "When you look at where he started in October to where he is today, massive jump. Credit to the development group in the G League for that. His future is bright as he goes forward.”

None of the Mavs' other players scored in double figures, but with significant minutes restrictions for each, Tim Hardaway Jr., who logged 16 minutes, played the most among them.

To begin the game, the momentum was in the Pistons' favor. Detroit achieved a 12-4 lead after Chimezie Metu converted from beyond the arc. The Mavs quickly rallied back to tie it up at 16-16 midway through the period using a 12-4 run. P.J. Washington and Hardaway were frequent focal points for Dallas offensively. Dallas ended the period trailing 27-21.

The Mavs took advantage of a few transition opportunities early in the second quarter, given the athleticism they deployed with Prosper, Derrick Jones Jr., and Daniel Gafford on the court together. A poster dunk from Prosper put Dallas ahead 33-31 at the 7:55 mark of the period, showcasing his aggression to get to the rim despite having to play through contact.

Coming out of halftime, the Mavs deployed players who receive little to no playing time in the regular rotation. The momentum was in the Pistons' favor coming out of the break, as they built a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter. The plan entering this game was to limit the starters to only playing the first half.

Hardy elevated his play after halftime by scoring 21 of his 25 points within the frame. He credited his improvement to the game slowing down, allowing him to gain a rhythm and process decision-making at a higher level as he continued his development, filling more of an initiator role like a point guard.

“Once the game started slowing down for me and I started to get into a rhythm, things started to come much easier," Hardy said. "I just started scanning the floor and trying to find guys.”

Prosper's second-half performance was also noteworthy. He scored 12 of his 16 points during this stretch and pulled down five of his six rebounds. With an extended opportunity to play at the NBA level, he was allowed to showcase his progression while spending a lot of time with the Texas Legends in the G League. He is focused on slowing down offensively and continuing to grow into his skill-set defensively.

"The biggest thing is just slowing down. Slowing down out there, seeing what's in front of me," Prosper said. "Taking the right shots and just learning how to play with my teammates. I didn't play as much with them this year, but just keep learning how to play with them. And just keep working on my efficiency and my defense.

"Defense is a big key of my game, and I take a lot of pride in that," Prosper explained. "I'm going to end up guarding the best wings in the world. So I got to keep working on that."

A rallying effort from the Mavs' reserve players made it 86-80 early in the fourth quarter after Detroit trailed by 16 points. Detroit held onto the lead for the remainder of regulation.

There were matters beyond basketball that were at the forefront of focus for the Mavs, with Lively's mother, Kathy Drysdale, passing away. Lively announced it on Instagram before the game and was still in attendance. The team offered a moment of silence before tipoff.

“When you talk about family, first, for Dereck [Lively II] to lose his mom is incredible for him to be here this morning," Kidd said of Lively. "Maybe you missed it, for him to talk to the team this morning, to give light on what he’s going through off the court as a 20-year-old, to be able to speak in front of everybody is incredible, and that just shows who he is.

"And then for his mom to pass this afternoon, to come to work – because sometimes I think we forget this is a job – he had every right to stay with his family and friends, but he wanted to come to work," Kidd continued. "I think that just shows the culture, the chemistry and the workplace is a safe place for him. He came and did his work with the team during the game.

"It just shows who he is, the character of a young 20-year-old who is able to come here after losing his mom and his best friend," Kidd concluded. "It just shows leadership, it just shows who he is. We all are sad about what’s taken place here but he’s showing that [with] his strength, he’s going to push forward. We’re going to be here to support him.”

The Mavs will end the regular season on Sunday when they face the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in an afternoon game. Kidd told reporters more rotation players won't be active for their upcoming game, with Hardaway being the only starter from this game who will play. It'll serve as another development opportunity for Hardy and Prosper.

“Everybody is on a minute restriction. No one was going to play more than the first half. Four of the five starters from tonight won’t play in Oklahoma City," Kidd said. "Timmy’s (Tim Hardaway Jr.) the only one that’s going to play. Understanding what we’re walking into in Oklahoma: they’re playing for the number one seed after Denver lost. We’ll be ready to go.”

It remains to be seen when Game 1 of the Mavs' first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers will be set, but the possibilities include either Apr. 20th or 21st. In Sunday's game, the Thunder will compete to earn the first seed in the Western Conference after entering a three-way tie. If Oklahoma City defeats the Mavs, it would potentially solidify the Thunder's homecourt advantage against any opponent aside from the Boston Celtics if both teams reach the NBA Finals.

If the Mavs lose against the Thunder, they will move to the other side of the bracket, helping them avoid the Denver Nuggets until the Western Conference Finals.