National Basketball Association

Nets resting all starters for season finale

Published Apr. 16, 2014 6:57 p.m. ET

foxsports

CLEVELAND (AP) Brooklyn coach Jason Kidd is resting all of his starters and key reserves for the season finale against the Cavaliers so they're ready for the playoffs.

The Nets entered Wednesday night's game with the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference, but could drop to No. 6 with a loss and if Washington wins in Boston.

Kidd is sitting Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson and Shaun Livingston, and the Nets will dress just eight players. A team spokesman wasn't even sure Brooklyn's usual starters would be at Quicken Loans Arena for the game.

Kidd dismissed any notion he was intentionally trying to lose the game so the Nets (44-37) would avoid playing Chicago in the first round of the playoffs. Brooklyn lost to the Bulls in the opening round a year ago.

The Nets lost at home to the New York Knicks on Tuesday night.