Dallas Mavericks big man Maxi Kleber suffered a “third-degree AC dislocation” in his shoulder during the team's Game 6 win over the Los Angeles Clippers, according to ESPN's Tim McMahon. McMahon said Kleber will be sidelined indefinitely and is at risk of missing Dallas' remaining postseason games.
A source told ESPN that an MRI scan revealed a third-degree dislocation of Mavs PF/C Maxi Kleber's AC joint in his shoulder. He will be sidelined indefinitely and likely for the remainder of the Mavs' playoff run. https://t.co/GnTvarSk70
— Tim McMahon (@espn_macmahon) May 4, 2024
In the Mavericks' first-round playoff series win over the Clippers, Kleber averaged 19.3 minutes per game. On the court, he averaged 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Additionally, he shot 52.4 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Dallas Mavericks key players likely to miss the rest of the postseason
Losing Maxi Kleber is a big blow for Dallas
Without Kleber on the court, Dallas will be without a reliable bench scorer who can stretch the floor. In Game 5, Kleber scored 15 points and made 5 of 7 field goals, all 3-point field goals. After the game, Luka Doncic spoke about Kleber's performance.
“It was great,” Doncic said of Kleber's play in Game 5. “I think we created a lot of open shots. It helped that Maxi got three downs in a row. The whole team, the energy, the bench got excited about the game. He was huge today. Big. It’s a shot.”
Additionally, Kleber is a solid defender and more than held his own in the first round.
Best FG defense among playoff players:
1. Maxi Kleber – 23.8%
2. Chet Holmgren – 36.1%
3. PJ Washington – 44.0%
4th place Isaiah Hartenstein – 47.8%
5. Derek Lively II – 48.3%via @statdefender pic.twitter.com/miiwhT2TU3
— MFFL Nation (@NationMffl) May 4, 2024
The team could rely more on Josh Green in his place, with Dwight Powell or Markieff Morris in the rotation.
Losing a player like Kleber is tough, especially as the team prepares to face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. During the regular season, the Mavericks were 1-3 against the Thunder. This includes last month's 49-point loss.
Last words about Maxi Kleber
Although not a key piece for the team, Kleber is still a reliable big man off the bench. In particular, his scoring ability is beneficial to the team. Assuming he misses the remainder of the playoffs, his absence will be difficult for Dallas to overcome. But their season isn't over yet. As long as Doncic and Kyrie Irving continue to play as well as they have been, the Mavericks are in a good position. The Thunder will be a tough matchup, but their explosive offense could spell trouble for Oklahoma City.
Game 1 will be held in Oklahoma City on Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
