On Thursday night, the Dallas Mavericks will play Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
The Mavs could be without one of their best players for this game, as rookie Derek Lively II is listed as questionable on the injury report.
The former Duke University star missed Game 4, so if he does not play, it will be his second consecutive absence.
Via Mark Followill: “Derek Lively II is questionable for Game 5 tomorrow night between the Mavs and Timberwolves. He missed much of Game 3 and Game 4 with a neck sprain.”
Derek Lively II’s availability has been raised to the questionable level for tomorrow night’s Game 5 between the Mavs and Timberwolves after he missed much of Game 3 and Game 4 with a neck sprain.
— Mark Followill (@MFollowill) May 29, 2024
Lively II finished the regular season averaging 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.4 blocks while appearing in 55 games and shooting 74.7% from the field.
He is one of the team’s best rebounders and rim protectors and is averaging 21.5 minutes per game through the first 15 games of the 2024 NBA playoffs.
The Mavericks were the fifth seed in the Western Conference and defeated the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder in the first two rounds.
If the Timberwolves advance, Game 6 of the series will be played in Dallas on Saturday night.
The team that wins this series will advance to the NBA Finals to face the Boston Celtics.
The Mavericks reached the conference finals for the second time in the last three seasons but have not won a championship since 2011.
