Report: Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively will not play in Game 4 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves

According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively will not play in Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lively is dealing with a neck sprain, an injury he sustained on Sunday in Game 3.

“Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) will not play in Game 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the WCF, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport,” Haynes said via X.

Lively has played a huge role for Dallas all postseason, rotating at the center position alongside Daniel Gafford. The former Duke product is averaging 8.8 points and 6.9 points throughout the entire 2023-2024 season but has taken his game to a new level during the playoffs.

Whether it’s protecting the rim or playing the pick-and-roll game with Luka Doncic/Kyrie Irving, Lively does not look like a rookie in his first go-round in the NBA playoffs.

But without him, the Mavericks will have a hole to fill in their rotation. Dwight Powell filled in for eight minutes during Game 3 and made two free throws to finish with two points.

Getting Maxi Kleber back in the lineup would be a huge boost, though. Kleber has been out since the beginning of the Western Conference semifinal matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a shoulder issue. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Kleber could be close to returning.

“Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber is on cusp of a return to the postseason, he has been upgraded to questionable for Game 4 vs. Timberwolves,” Charania said via X. “Kleber has been out since May 3 due to an AC joint shoulder separation.”

The Mavericks are the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They reached the Western Conference Finals by beating the No. 4 seed Clippers in the first round and the No. 1 seed Thunder in the second round.

If the Mavericks do indeed close out the Timberwolves on Tuesday, or at some point in the next few days, it appears likely that they will play the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

Boston holds a 3-0 lead on the Indiana Pacers entering Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, which is scheduled for Monday night.

Getting Lively back on the court will be huge for Dallas — whether it’s against Minnesota in the coming days or when potentially playing in the NBA Finals.

On3’s Matt Connolly contributed to this report