Bulls puts an end to Mavericks play-in hopes with 115-112 win

Chicago Bulls rallied past Mavericks 115-112 on Friday night, eliminating Dallas from play-in contention. Just an year ago Mavericks were in the Western Conference final and now couldn’t reach a top 10 spot.

Dallas coach Jason Kidd said before the game an “organizational decision” was made to limit Luka Doncic to the first quarter while sitting fellow All-Star Kyrie Irving and it looked like this masterplan worked.

Irving was out for right foot injury recovery. The others sitting with him were Tim Hardaway Jr. with left ankle soreness.

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Doncic, who scored 13 points, ended up playing a few seconds into the second quarter on a night when the Mavericks paid tribute to his home country of Slovenia.