Dallas Mavericks center Derek Lively II was injured and removed from Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after being hit with an inadvertent knee to the back of the head by Karl-Anthony Towns. Lively was already down as Towns was going for an offensive rebound. The Mavericks announced that Lively is questionable to return due to a neck sprain. Below is video of the incident. Lively had also been hit in the groin a few plays earlier.
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Lively has been great for the Mavs in the playoffs, especially this series. He led the team in plus-minus in the playoffs this season and was a perfect field goal shooter in all three games against the Timberwolves, finishing with six points, three rebounds and two assists in Game 3.
The rookie out of Duke, selected 12th overall last July, has been sensational all season. Dallas acquired him in a draft-day trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder after the Mavericks opted out of Davis Bertans’ contract and acquired Cason Wallace ahead of the Orlando Magic. The addition of Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline this season gave the Mavericks a two-center duo capable of patrolling the paint, blocking shots and catching lobs from Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Dallas entered the game with a 2-0 series lead over the Timberwolves at halftime. Maxi Kleber is also out with a shoulder injury, and if Lively can’t return, the Mavericks could either turn to veteran Dwight Powell to give Gafford a rest or use P.J. Washington briefly at the 5 for some flexibility, which may not be a good idea against Minnesota.
Update: The Mavericks removed Lively from the game midway through the third quarter due to a neck sprain.
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