Mavericks

Two consecutive contests against the Dallas Mavericks played out in nearly the exact same manner for the Charlotte Hornets, culminating with a 110-...

Dončić went off for 40 points – 16 in the second quarter – 12 rebounds and eight assists, marking his 13th 40-point game this season. Smith had 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, five rebounds and six assists against his former team, JT Thor canned a career-best 3-of-3 3-point attempts for nine points and Bryce McGowens also added nine points, all of which came in the third quarter. Mark Williams was back in the starting lineup and had 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds, becoming the first Charlotte rookie to record multiple 15-15 games in the same season since Emeka Okafor in 2004-05.

Dončić's 16th technical earns him an automatic one-game suspension. He scored a game-high 40 points to go with 12 rebounds and 8 assists.

I don’t talk about my private life, but there’s just a lot going on.” [Indiana](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/pacers/). [Kyrie Irving](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kyrie-irving-c9XLlxAFm6NG5ddD/). Here’s what you need to know: [Oklahoma City](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/thunder/)for 10th place and the final spot in the Play-In Tournament. [Mavericks](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/mavericks/) star [Luka Dončić](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/luka-doncic-gMyReUOesjAikT7S/) picked up his 16th technical foul of the 2022-23 season Sunday as the Mavericks fell to the [Hornets](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/hornets/) 110-104.

The Mavericks' late-season woes hit a new low Sunday afternoon as they fell to the Hornets 110-104, their second loss to lowly Charlotte in three days.

“I think you can see it with me on the court,” Doncic told reporters after Friday night’s loss. Now sitting in the No. I used to have really fun, smiling on the court, but it’s just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons, not just basketball.”

The Charlotte Hornets overcame a 40-point outing from Luka Doncic to defeat Dallas 110-104, their second win over the Mavericks in three days and another ...

... Irving asked officials to have a fan removed from in the third quarter. and Irving draining back-to-back 3s before Doncic nailed a step-back 3 with 5:44 remaining to give Dallas its first lead of the game. After Doncic missed another late 3-point attempt and the clock expired, he exchanged words with a fan seated courtside and wagged his finger at him. Things didn't start well Sunday for the Mavericks in the rematch. A dejected Doncic said after Friday night's loss to the Hornets he was frustrated over how the season has gone. Down 19 with four minutes left in the first half, Doncic began to turn it up a notch, connecting on four 3-pointers and assisting on another 3 to spearhead a 19-7 Mavericks run to close the half and trimming the Charlotte lead to seven at the break.

Kyrie Irving had a fan kicked out of a game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter Sunday afternoon.

[the Mavericks](https://www.foxnews.com/category/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks) 59-52. The Mavericks were 36-38 before their game against the Hornets. [CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM](https://www.foxnews.com/sports) Hornets fans began to boo as security came to get the man. The fan was wearing a Washington Redskins hat and a D.C. After the game, he addressed the fans’ reactions.

It wasn't the first time Kyrie Irving had been booed in a Dallas Mavericks uniform.

In the latest installment of Kyrie Irving v. The Mavericks have struggled since acquiring Irving. "If the fans want to change places, then ...

The Dallas star got his 16th technical foul of the season on Sunday against the Hornets.

As the Mavericks work toward clinching a playoff spot, Luka Doncic met a less-desirable benchmark- 16 technical fouls.

12](https://www.dallasnews.com/2022/12/13/nba-rescinds-luka-doncics-technical-foul-for-yelling-at-mavericks-teammate-vs-thunder/) vs. vs. [Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here](https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/). Loss He’s slotted behind only the Memphis Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks (who served his a suspension Sunday for Tech No. 28 against the Indiana Pacers and for 23, including for excessive complaining Feb. NBA rules dictate a player will face an automatic one-game suspension for drawing 16 technical fouls in a regular season and will also serve a one-game suspension for every two techs after No. The tech count restarts in the playoffs, with a one-game suspension after No.

It appears time to toss one more team into the NBA's tanking mix. Oddly, however, this team is led by two superstars.

If it lands in the top 10, though, it will convey to next season (it remains top-10 protected through 2025, then converts into a second-round pick). Another option is to let Irving walk and try to find a replacement with the $25-or-so million they can create in cap space. And none of this even touches on the first-round pick the front office surrendered last offseason for [Christian Wood](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/christian-wood-player), only for it to become clear before the regular season even tipped off that Jason Kidd had [no faith in Wood’s abilities](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/2022/11/23/23474838/jason-kidds-messaging-about-christian-wood-is-confusing), or the decision to sign [JaVale McGee](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/javale-mcgee-player), [promise him a starting role](https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/javale-mcgee-officially-signs-contract-starter-luka-doncic-dallas-mavs-rumor) and then have him spend the majority of the season on the sideline registering DNPs. They can’t contain players along the perimeter (since the Irving deal, only four teams have allowed more [points per game in the paint](https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/misc?DateFrom=02/06/2023&dir=D&sort=OPP_PTS_PAINT)). But the Mavericks have never had success in free agency. I’m not playing, I’m watching, just like you guys"; Irving [go after](https://twitter.com/espn_macmahon/status/1639480999204765698) Mavericks fans for booing' and Doncic hint at some sort of deeper level of sadness and stress. Because not only is this season heading down the drain, but it’s safe to assume that at some point, Doncic is going to look around and say, "Yeah, no thanks." If the season ended today, the Mavericks — the team that went all in for Irving before the trade deadline — would be done. To be fair, that prediction has mostly come true; lineups with both Irving and Doncic on the court have scored at rate better than that of the No.1-ranked offense of the It’s been an incredible fall for a team that less than one year ago was playing in the Western Conference finals. The Mavericks aren’t just a disaster. After all, any team with a semblance of self-respect would of course run the Hornets off the floor.

Doncic reached 15 technical fouls in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 regular seasons.

Doncic reached 15 technical fouls in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 regular seasons. That marked Doncic’s 16th technical foul of the regular season, triggering an automatic, unpaid one-game suspension through the NBA’s rules for unsportsmanlike infractions. Technical foul counts restart in the playoffs, when the league will levy a one-game suspension after seven. [crew chief Kevin Scott said officials made the right call](https://official.nba.com/pool-report-on-the-luka-doncic-technical-foul-and-fan-ejection-in-the-third-quarter-of-todays-dallas-at-charlotte-game/) in assessing a technical foul on Doncic. [as it did for one of Doncic’s whistles in December](https://www.dallasnews.com/2022/12/13/nba-rescinds-luka-doncics-technical-foul-for-yelling-at-mavericks-teammate-vs-thunder/) — he will serve the suspension Monday against the Indiana Pacers. [Luka Doncic](https://www.dallasnews.com/person/3eb9ef90-a289-fc64-a246-2db20aad9c0c/) is facing the first suspension of his NBA career.

Monday, March 27 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Game Preview. If the Indiana Pacers advance to the postseason, it will be because the team took ...

- Indiana and Dallas have split the season series each of the last four seasons. He led the team to an NBA championship in 2011. Indiana led by 11 points with 6:11 left in the game, but then went scoreless for almost four straight minutes. Prior to the trade deadline in February, the Mavericks made a splash by adding All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving. The Mavericks are led by phenom guard Luka Doncic, but will likely be without him on Monday. Six Pacers finished in double-digit scoring. Doncic is currently second in the NBA in scoring at 32.9 points per game – on 49.9 percent shooting – while also averaging 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists. The Pacers were without Myles Turner (sore back). Despite Nwora’s offensive outpouring, and 19 points and 13 assists from All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers gave up at least 33 points in each quarter. Indiana is two and a half games back from 10th place, which is the final seed for the Play-In Tournament. Of the remaining seven games on the team’s calendar, five will be played in Indianapolis. In the Western Conference postseason race, which is shifting nightly, just two games or fewer separate seeds seven through 11.

The Mavericks limp into Indiana on the 2nd night of a back to back.

If Myles Turner doesn’t suit up for the game, the Pacer's tallest player on the floor will be 6’9”, so there are no excuses for Dallas to rebound the basketball effectively. Josh was a minus 12 in 21 minutes coming off the bench last Friday. You hear the term scheduled loss often, but the games against the Hornets and Pacers were penciled in as potential scheduled wins for the Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks' current aura is worse than it’s been in years. [Dallas Mavericks](https://www.mavsmoneyball.com) are dangerously entering the territory of not making the play in game at this point if they don't win out the remainder of the season. In addition, Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, and Trevelin Queen are questionable for the game.

Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic hasn't been his happy self as of late, showing another glimpse of his sadness during the team's second straight loss to ...

Perhaps there's still unresolved issues from that, but Doncic refuses to speak on his private life. Mavericks are currently out of the play-in tournament and only have seven games remaining. "The Mavs' results since the Kyrie Irving trade have obviously been disappointing," MacMahon tweeted." "I think you can see it with me on the court," Doncic said Friday after the first loss to Charlotte. Blaming Luka Doncic's frustration on Irving isn't fair or accurate." I used to have really fun, smiling on court, but it's just been so frustrating for a lot of reasons, not just basketball."

The Charlotte Hornets overcame a 40-point outing from Luka Doncic on Sunday to defeat Dallas 110-104, their second win over the Mavericks in three days — ...

(right shoulder sprain) both sat out for the second straight game. A dejected Doncic had said after Friday night's loss to the Hornets he was frustrated over how the season has gone. “I just had to make sure I looked him eye to eye and see if he would say it to my face,” Irving said. ... Hardaway returned after missing the last two games. came up with a key bucket for Charlotte against his former team, sneaking behind the Dallas defense and dunking off a lob from Washington to put Charlotte up by five with 1:05 remaining. The second half it was, but the same as last game it was too late.” ... He yelled it and I handled it.” A 3-of-18 shooting start from the field and a 19-point first-half deficit ultimately proved too much for Dallas to overcome. Maxi Kleber responded with a 3 off a feed from Doncic, but Charlotte answered again with a layup by Mark Williams off a pass from Hayward. “The desire to win has to be at an all-time high right now,” Tim Hardaway Jr. “The biggest part of the game again was the first quarter,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said. “Playing from ahead is a big deal.

Watching the Mavericks drop a second consecutive game against a Hornets team that hasn't cared about winning basketball games since Christmas, admittedly my ...

LeBron James was drafted by one of the most tortured teams in pro sports and had them as a playoff lock by year three. In the history of the NBA it is almost impossible to find young, MVP-level talents puttering below .500 and in danger of missing the playoffs entirely. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back, revealing that the roster and the coach wasn’t good enough to prop it back up. Durant’s Thunder won 60 games and made it to the second round, after making it to the Finals a season earlier. There are seven games left in the NBA season and the team is in 11th place, one game back of 10th place and a play-in spot. Or make the conference finals but then get bounced in the first. In the NBA and basketball, talent is like the tide that lifts all boats — with only five players on the court at once, basketball is uniquely a team sport dominated by individual talents that sway the course of a team or season in a way almost no other professional team sport can do, aside from quarterbacks in football. Giannis Antetokounmpo won 60 games as a 24-year-old in coincidently the first season after Jason Kidd was fired. Duncan’s Spurs won 58 games and made it to the conference finals, of course this after winning a title two seasons prior. Michael Jordan and the Bulls won 50 games and went to the second round. Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves only won 47 games, but they made the playoffs. “Doncic records most points as a 21-year-old since BLANK.” There have been a ton of those the last few years.

The Indiana Pacers 33-42 have seven games left to keep their NBA playoff dream alive and on Monday they will welcome the Dallas Mavericks 36-39.

The Over is 35-17 when Indiana are a home underdog and just 7-1 in their last eight overall as an underdog. They're not a strong defence anyway, and playing on heavy legs primarily affects the defence. Indiana is also a team that likes to push the pace, so whilst it may be tough for Dallas to contain them, they should have their fair share of scoring opportunities. Dallas just shot 34% from the field last night and in previous previews, we've established that teams generally bounce back. A win there could have put Dallas firmly in the driving seat, and matters weren't helped by OKC winning in Portland. I think they're in a perfect spot to put in a high-scoring performance.

SportsLine's computer model simulated Indiana Pacers vs. Dallas Mavericks 10000 times and revealed its NBA picks today.

- Mavericks vs. The Pacers lead the NBA with 18.4 fast break points per game this season, and Indiana is in the top six of the league in assists per game (26.8) and assist percentage (64.1%). SportsLine's model is leaning Over on the total, projecting 247 combined points. The Pacers make 13.7 3-pointers per game, a top-eight figure in the league, and Indiana is soundly above-average in offensive rebound rate (28.4%) and free throw accuracy (79.2%). The Pacers also have the edge when it comes to turnover creation defensively. The Pacers grab only 68.6% of available defensive rebounds, and opponents average 15.4 second-chance points per game against Indiana. The Pacers are allowing 116.6 points per 100 possessions, and no team is worse at securing the defensive glass than Indiana. Pacers](https://www.sportsline.com/nba/game-forecast/NBA_20230327_DAL@IND/) and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. Jason Kidd's team commits a turnover on only 12.5% of possessions, a top-three mark in the NBA, and Dallas also keeps pressure on the opposition from beyond the 3-point arc. [NBA picks](https://www.sportsline.com/nba/picks/) over the past four-plus seasons. Before making any Pacers vs. The Mavericks are on a back-to-back, leaving an uncertain injury report for Monday's game.

Dallas has completely fallen apart after going all in for Irving at the deadline. Just how bad have things gotten? It might be time for the Mavs to cut ...

With limited ways to bolster the roster, it’s crucial that this year’s pick turns into a real asset. For the Mavs to get more stops, Doncic must get in shape, stay healthy, and, for the love of all things basketball, start caring about defense. The truth is, a long break could benefit both the Mavs and Doncic. Since the deadline, the Mavs rank in the bottom five in defensive rating. Irving has missed some games due to injury, but he’s excelled as a scorer, shared the ball, and by all accounts been a model teammate since arriving in Dallas. With their season already toast, the Blazers are So, in a nutshell: The Mavs will likely have limited future first-round picks to operate with this summer (2023 or 2025, plus 2027), plus 2026 and 2028 pick swaps. Missing the playoffs and keeping their 2023 first, no matter where it lands, is probably the best path forward for the Mavericks. But hey, the strategy also netted Dallas the fifth pick in the 2018 draft, which was used to trade up and snag the franchise-altering Luka Doncic. At last month’s trade deadline, the Nets reportedly said no thanks to four first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, and the Raptors refused three for OG Anunoby. If they send their pick to the Knicks this year, then they’ll subsequently be able to trade their 2025 first starting this summer instead. The Mavericks are now just 7-13 since the Irving trade, including their current four-game skid, which has included back-to-back losses to the lowly Hornets.

Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks (36-39) are just 1-point underdogs in Monday's matchup with Buddy Hield and the Indiana Pacers (33-42). The game's.

Timberwolves Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, March 26, 2023](https://www.bleachernation.com/nba-predictions/2023/03/26/warriors-vs-timberwolves-prediction-expert-picks-odds-stats-best-bets-sunday-march-26-2023/) Trail Blazers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Sunday, March 26, 2023](https://www.bleachernation.com/nba-predictions/2023/03/26/thunder-vs-trail-blazers-prediction-expert-picks-odds-stats-best-bets-sunday-march-26-2023/) [Warriors vs. Trail Blazers Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, March 27, 2023](https://www.bleachernation.com/nba-predictions/2023/03/27/pelicans-vs-trail-blazers-prediction-expert-picks-odds-stats-best-bets-monday-march-27-2023/) [Thunder vs. The Pacers knock down 13.7 three-pointers per game (sixth-most in the league), 1.3 more than their opponents. The Mavericks’ offense has been much better in home games (115.2 PPG) compared to road games (112.1 PPG). It is shooting 37% from beyond the arc (ninth-best in the NBA) while allowing opponents to shoot 35%. It is outrebounded by 3.8 boards per game. [BETMGM NBA Promo](https://www.bleachernation.com/link/betmgm-dsk/) [FANDUEL NBA Promo](https://www.bleachernation.com/link/fanduel-dsk/) [CAESARS NBA Promo](https://www.bleachernation.com/link/caesars-dsk-full/) [DRAFTKINGS NBA Promo](https://www.bleachernation.com/link/betmgm-dsk/) A 233-point total has been set for the game.

Since the pairing of guards Luka Doncic, right, and Kyrie Irving at the trade deadlin, the Dallas Mavericks have gone 7-13. FILE PHOTO.

In 1989, the Mavs finished with a losing record and missed the playoffs. In their final seven games, four are against teams that will be in the playoffs. 8 against the Clippers in Los Angeles, the team improved to 30-26. The offseason addition of Christian Wood has been empty stats. For a team that made the western conference finals last season, and returns their best player in his prime, missing the playoffs is not easy. That was good for fourth place in the Western Conference. The interior defense doesn’t exist. Right now they would not be in the NBA’s play-in game. When it does happen, normally it’s because the team was broken up in the offseason, or major injuries occurred. This should go down as the most disappointing season in Mavs history. Only 15 times has a team that made the conference finals failed to make the playoffs the following year. Vice mayor expresses concerns over ability to handle influx of travelers.](/news/local/govt-and-politics/as-danville-preps-for-temporary-casino-a-question-looms-are-we-ready-vice-mayor-expresses/article_b8f36e86-ca77-11ed-a5b8-63d80c73535e.html#tracking-source=mp-in-article) [From the Editor's Desk: To honor Stuart Sutphin — a longtime Register & Bee columnist who died Thursday — be sure to enjoy your garden](/opinion/columnists/from-the-editors-desk-to-honor-stuart-sutphin-a-longtime-register-bee-columnist-who-died/article_a614d5d8-ca78-11ed-aae5-5ff59426e4e8.html#tracking-source=mp-in-article)

The Indiana Pacers begin a short homestand tonight as they host the Dallas Mavericks in Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Doncic picked up the tech in a loss on Sunday against the Hornets.

Their last two games have both been losses to the Charlotte Hornets, who have the fourth-worst record in the NBA and are without star point guard [LaMelo Ball](/nba/players/3149252/lamelo-ball/). The Mavericks may have thought they were taking the leap into championship contention when they traded Irving, but right now, it's not even clear if they'll be able to remain in the playoff picture. Even with Doncic playing on Monday, that will be no easy task considering their recent struggles. When a player picks up his 16th technical foul of the season, he is subject to an automatic one-game suspension. 11 in the Western Conference amid a recent slide. [Luka Doncic's](/nba/players/2900426/luka-doncic/) 16th technical foul, the league [announced](https://twitter.com/NBAOfficial/status/1640402089552510977) Monday.

Doncic will be forced to miss a game at a very inopportune time for the free-falling Mavs.

He's proven to be a self-centered distraction, and his presence hasn't led to winning at the highest-level since he played alongside After all, he's slated to be an unrestricted free agent after the season. It's been a less-than-ideal start to Irving's Dallas tenure, which makes you wonder if he's a long-term fit with the franchise. "I think you can see it with me on the court," Doncic said after Dallas' loss to Charlotte on Friday night. Moving forward, Doncic needs to commit to being better on the defensive end. But at the same time, that's not necessarily what you want to hear from the coach of a struggling squad. [Jalen Brunson](/nba/players/2203517/jalen-brunson/) to walk in free agency last summer after all the potential he flashed in a Mavs uniform. Similarly, Jason Kidd will have to answer for the team's woes, especially on the defensive end, where they rank in the bottom third of the league. We gotta play with the cards that we have...Just understand we're getting better, it's just a matter of can we be healthy in time to make a stretch run. But make no mistake, if they do end up landing in the lottery, there will be plenty of blame to go around. The Mavs have now lost four straight games, and they sit on the outside of the playoff picture looking in -- 11th in the Western Conference with a 36-39 overall record. [Luka Doncic](/nba/players/2900426/luka-doncic/) received his 16th technical foul on the season on Sunday, which means that he's in line for an automatic one-game suspension, which he will serve against the [Indiana Pacers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/IND/indiana-pacers/) on Monday night.

MAR. 27, 2023 (DALLAS) – The Dallas Mavericks and Celsius Holdings, Inc. announced a multi-year sponsorship naming CELSIUS® the official Energy Drink ...

In addition to on-court success, the Mavs are committed to making a difference in North Texas through community programs and the Mavs Foundation. “As the official energy drink, CELSIUS looks forward to helping keep sports fans and eventgoers at the Arena refreshed and energized with Essential Energy!” “We look forward to providing our fans with CELSIUS’ Essential Energy at games and throughout the community.”

St. Joseph, Mo. --- The Minnesota State women's golf team shot a collective 330 (+42) Monday to open the nine-team Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by ...

Individually, MWSU's Florence Phan shot a one-over 73 to lead the pack. [Anna Cihak](/sports/womens-golf/roster/anna-cihak/11740) Joseph Country Club, a par-72 track that is playing to 5,836 yards.

For all the noise surrounding the Mavericks' ongoing late-season collapse, its root causes have been evident for a long time.

[Bucks](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/bucks/) and Mavericks tenures. (Don’t forget he was a healthy scratch in three of the first four games of this season.) [Jaden Hardy](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jaden-hardy-qVOzeYX5dZEWtfyp/) is a rookie guard who wasn’t even supposed to play meaningful minutes this season. [Reggie Bullock](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/reggie-bullock-ikD8UAkJCkf8mvyF/), now 32, hasn’t been as effective. [Maxi Kleber](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/maxi-kleber-yLF22QB0J9VK3S0v/), 31, missed 34 games after having midseason knee surgery. [JaVale McGee](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/javale-mcgee-zFmNF44KQd7Dp4EF/), was supposed to provide rim protection the team lacked last year. [From before the season](https://theathletic.com/3650311/2022/10/11/mavericks-player-analysis-part-2/): “It’s not guaranteed he’ll fit seamlessly into the Mavericks’ defensive approach.” [Spencer Dinwiddie](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/spencer-dinwiddie-huzVN9MOnuJR3hwP/) could hold this team together despite often being alone on the court. “It’s not Brunson’s absence alone, necessarily, that could cause the Mavericks to underperform, but what his departure means to the successful recipe,” [I wrote](https://theathletic.com/3681008/2022/10/13/mavericks-best-worst-scenarios/) before this season began. [Kyrie Irving](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kyrie-irving-c9XLlxAFm6NG5ddD/), this season was supposed to be far more successful than what it has been. “If Dallas falls below its over-under (of 48.5 wins), it starts with Dinwiddie not being the player he was when paired with another guard,” I [wrote back in October](https://theathletic.com/3681008/2022/10/13/mavericks-best-worst-scenarios/). [now-infamous failure](https://theathletic.com/3398786/2022/07/04/jalen-brunson-knicks-mavericks-free-agency/) to re-sign Jalen Brunson can be examined for eternity, but it was never ever in question that his exit would hurt. It has allowed realistic discussions to be had online about whether the team should simply shut down its stars and try retaining its draft pick this season, which is owed to the [New York Knicks](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/knicks/), top-10 protected.

Dallas appears to be headed for an ungraceful end to its season, unless its two superstars can turn things around.

[Charlotte Hornets](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/charlotte-hornets-team). They lost in the conference finals, last year, to [Golden State](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/golden-state-warriors-team) in five games, but they made it to the conference finals. If they miss the play-in this year, it will mark the first time since the 2013-14 season that Irving will not appear in the postseason, having made it to the playoffs during his entire tenure with [Phoenix Suns](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/phoenix-suns-team). Dallas is one game behind the 10th place [Brooklyn](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/brooklyn-nets-team) (2019-23), [Boston](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/boston-celtics-team) (2017-19) and his final four years with [Cleveland](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/cleveland-cavaliers-team) (2011-17). [Shannon Sharpe](https://www.foxsports.com/personalities/shannon-sharpe) also doesn't believe that Dallas will be able to turn the tide in time. [Oklahoma City Thunder](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder-team) and the ninth-place [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.foxsports.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers-team) (both 37-38). "They got outrebounded by 21 rebounds. "At this moment, it appears very distinctly and strongly that they're not even going to even make the play-in tournament. … A lot of times, he's putting his team in harm's way. He takes a lot of shots.

With both Christian Wood and Kyrie Irving unrestricted free agents this summer, and with a first-round selection owned to the New York Knicks, the Dallas ...

There's little they can do about anything this summer, which has to be a topic of conversation going into next season within the front office. Dallas is 36-38 and ranks 11th in the Western Conference, which is considered a massive disappointment by all possible measures given that the team made the Conference Finals last season. Dallas does have their first-round pick this year, but only if it lands in the Top 10. It doesn't help the situation that head coach Jason Kidd has a tendency to put blame on his players as opposed to himself, something dating back to his days in Milwaukee where he coached another European superstar in Giannis Antetokounmpo. To acquire Irving, forward Dorian Finney-Smith was routed to Brooklyn, and he was one of Dončić's best friends on the team. With three years left on his contract after the conclusion of this season, Dončić looks increasingly trapped in a situation that's becoming untenable.