Mavs’ Dereck Lively is categorized as doubtful for Game 5.
Dereck Lively, the Mavericks’ rookie center, is listed as questionable for Thursday’s Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
Lively missed Game 4 on Tuesday, as the Timberwolves avoided elimination, after he suffered a neck sprain in Game 3 on Sunday.
Lively was hurt in the second quarter after he tumbled backward in the lane and was accidentally kneed in the head by Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns.
On The Athletic’s “Run It Back” show, Shams Charania stated that Lively will be a game-time decision, adding, “It’s really trending toward a 50/50 chance that he plays.”
When healthy, Lively has been incredibly efficient in the postseason. Lively has made 13 field goal attempts in the series. He recorded 14 points and 9 rebounds in Game 2.
During Lively’s absence, Mavs big man Maxi Kleber returned to action in Game 4. Kleber, who had been sidelined since May 3 due to a shoulder ailment, played 13 minutes on Tuesday and contributed two points, one rebound, and one assist.
Luka Doncic, as he has frequently been, is labeled as questionable for Game 5 due to knee and ankle injuries. However, Doncic, who recorded a triple-double in 41 minutes on Tuesday, has yet to miss a game this postseason.
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