Dallas Mavericks rookie center Derek Lively II is out for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday due to a sprained neck he suffered in Sunday’s Game 3 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to head coach Jason Kidd.
Lively was injured when Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns accidentally kneed him in the back of the head as Lively fell to the ground early in the second quarter.
“He’s doing a lot better,” Kidd said before the game. “…It’s painful, but he feels better.”
Lively, a second-team All-Rookie selection, averaged 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting 65.3% from the floor during the playoffs. The Mavs have outscored their playoff opponents by a combined 109 points with Lively on the court, the second-best plus-minus in the West in the postseason this year, behind Minnesota center Rudy Gobert.
The Mavericks could benefit from some frontcourt reinforcement from Maxi Kleber, however, as the power forward/center is listed as available for Tuesday night’s game. He has been out since suffering a separated AC joint in his right shoulder during Dallas’ final-round first-round win over the LA Clippers.
Superstar guard Luka Doncic, who was also listed as questionable due to his right knee sprain and left ankle soreness, is also available to play.
Dallas has a chance to advance to the NBA Finals to face the Boston Celtics with a victory on Tuesday.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this story.
