Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively is 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 after the Timberwolves managed to avoid elimination, following a neck sprain he sustained during Game 3 on Sunday.
The injury happened in the second quarter when Lively fell backward in the lane and was accidentally kneed in the head by Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns.
On “Run It Back,” Shams Charania of The Athletic indicated that Lively will be a game-time decision, noting, “It’s really trending toward a 50/50 chance that he plays.”
When healthy, Lively has been highly effective throughout the postseason. He has made all 13 of his field goal attempts in the series, including a standout 14-point, 9-rebound performance in Game 2.
With Lively out, Mavericks big man Maxi Kleber returned to the court in Game 4. After being sidelined since May 3 with a shoulder injury, Kleber played 13 minutes on Tuesday, adding two points, one rebound, and one assist.
Luka Doncic is also listed as questionable for Game 5 due to knee and ankle issues. Despite these injuries, Doncic, who recorded a triple-double in 41 minutes on Tuesday, has not missed any games this postseason.
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