Kidd: Wrong to link Kyrie injury to playing time

MILWAUKEE -- Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd called Kyrie Irving's torn ACL a "freak accident" and refuted any perceived connection between the star guard's increased playing time and the injury.

In the 10 games before Irving was hurt Monday against the Sacramento Kings, he was averaging 39.3 minutes, the most in the NBA during that span, which was kicked off by Dallas' trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Speaking before Wednesday night's matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, Kidd said he did not appreciate any connections drawn between Irving's uptick in playing time and the season-ending injury.

"We're talking about one play," he said. "Not many before that. It's a freak accident, that's how it should be reported. We're reporting on conspiracy theories. We want our stars to play. This isn't supposed to be a rest league."

Irving had been the Mavs' most consistent player this season. He was averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 36.1 minutes and had played in 50 of the team's 62 games. He was named to his ninth All-Star team in February.

"Kai is our leader," Kidd said. "Kai also was playing at a high level; maybe some of the best basketball that he's played in his career. We can't talk from both sides and say our stars don't play enough minutes and guys don't play enough. They rest. But now we're saying they play too much."

Dallas already is playing without Anthony Davis, who left his only game with the team on Feb.8 with a groin injury. Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Kai Jones also have been out.

Against the Bucks, the Mavericks had only eight healthy players available.