Dereck Lively II
Mavericks center Dereck Lively II is officially out for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday with a neck sprain.
However, another Dallas center, Maxi Kleber, is closer to a return after being out since May 7 with a shoulder injury and is officially questionable for Game 4.
Lively had to leave Game 3 in the third quarter after incidentally being kneed in the head by Karl-Anthony Towns.
He left the game but reports say he has not been put in concussion protocol, that the injuries are all about his neck.
Lively averaged 9.7 points a game — on perfect 13-of-13 shooting — plus 7.7 rebounds a game in the three games against the Timberwolves, but the numbers undersell his importance.
Dallas is +22 in Lively’s minutes through three games and -9 in the minutes he is off the court.
He has been a defensive force protecting the rim — in rotation with Daniel Gafford — and his ability to finish alley-oops around the rim has made him a favorite target of Luka Doncic this series.
Playing without Lively will put a lot more on Gafford’s plate, but it would help if Kleber returns. He went through a workout on the court on the off day in the series Monday.
He has been out since May 7 with an AC joint separation, but if he can return the threat of his 3-point shot — 34.8% from beyond the arc this season hisplus is rebounding and defense would be a boost.
If he cannot go, expect Jason Kidd to go with a small-ball lineup with P.J. Washington at the five when Gafford is on the bench.
If Chris Paul hits the NBA free-agent market, he will have suitors for the 2024-25 season.
While the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs already have been linked to Paul, who currently is on the Warriors’ roster, the Los Angeles Clippers — his former team — could join the mix.
“I nonetheless heard this week that [Chris] Paul and Kyle Lowry, whose free agency is looming after finishing last season in Philadelphia, are veteran guards said to interest the Clippers,” NBC Sports NBA contributor Marc Stein wrote in his latest Substack newsletter (h/t Pro Basketball Talk’s Kurt Helin).
