[Haynes] 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.
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. pic.twitter.com/WIaKwkET3L
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 27, 2024
by MarvelsGrantMan136
45 Comments
Fuck
I want to believe this matters, but after seeing Minnesota’s performance in Game 3 after Lively exited I don’t think it does
So there’s no concussion? That’s amazing
Just wishing for a full recovery and no impact to his health. He has done enough to earn resting till he is ready.
That really sucks for the Mavs. This could be a much more competitive series now, his defense is huge for them
I just hope he’s ok, watching him hobble off the floor was terrifying
Get well soon Rook 🥺
I hope we at least get Maxi back.
The most impactful thing KAT has done in this series is kick poor Lively in the head and testicles.
Hoping Lively is going to be back soon.
If the Twolves come back KAT’s knee should get conference finals MVP
Man this sucks, apparently Kleber is making progress though.
Defense will take a hit, but just got to keep it close til it’s time for Luka and Kyrie to close it out.
lol Celtics
Terrible news for the Mavs. Lively is instrumental to their success, his size, passing ability and rebounding bothers Minnesota a lot. Now Gafford will need to play 40 minutes and tone down in the aggression in order to stay out of foul trouble.
Really tough luck for the Mavs.
Fuck KAT’s knees
Bah god that’s number 7’s music!
MAVS IN FOUR 💯
Will the DPOY Center making $45m have higher expectations now that the rookie he’s getting outplayed by is out?
Of course not, this is r/nba
Dwight Powell Legacy Game.
Don’t let them get one
I like Lively he seems to be a nice kid. I hope he’s ok. Also it’s our pick, Dallas give him back yo.
Mavs will win the series but this game 4 feeling like a Timberwolves win
The satanic ritual fucked up, we wanted Luka or Kyrie not Lively /s.
PJ, DJJ, and Maxi gotta step up and shoot them 3s next game.
Uh oh, they really got to tread water with the Powell minutes
We can credit KAT’s knee being the MVP but saying Danny Green finas MVP is down voted to oblivion.
Another win for the Celtics, if the Mavs swept they could’ve used every bit of that rest
Playoff rookie of the year
When is the last time a team losing their rookie was seen as such a blow for their deep playoff run?
Surprised at my fellow Mavs fans in here not grasping how significant this is.
Wolves are the better team without Lively playing at all, even with the Mavs advantage scoring late in games. Wolves can absolutely win game 4. And then, do we know Lively will actually be ready to play at a high level upon his return in game 5 or later?
Maxi’s return would be helpful but is he going to be ready to play a high level either? He’s been out close to a month.
While it’s hard to imagine the Mavs losing 4 in a row, the Wolves are too good to not pounce on there being no Lively. And if they take game 4, they get game 5 at home. Could be looking at a 6-7 game series because of this injury.
Also, just to add: Lively played 9 massive first half mins in last night’s game. We were up 10 when he got kneed in the head. Wolves were +10 from that point until the 3 min mark of the 4th, when their crunch time offense didn’t show up.
Good. Rest him till the finals.
Mavs will be fine. I am getting 2011 vibes where the “next man up” mentality really happens.
Yeah, no way this doesn’t motivate the team. People are talking about how ruthless and petty Luka/Kyrie then saying how this will totally shift the series.
Is it a big loss? Definitely. But if you don’t think Kidd and Kyrie will have Gafford, Washington, Jones and even Powell up to the task you haven’t been paying attention. I guarantee we get some sort of ultra aggressive Luka and Kyrie close out game so the whole team can rest until the 6th.
No one is expecting Powell to be Lively. But at the same time Lively wasn’t our starter and Gafford just needs to play a little more while we also use a smaller lineup. Which has worked already. Plus we might get a 75% Maxi, which is better than nothing. I’m not scared.
id say, for fairness, the wolves should lose kat while lively can’t play but that might actually help them…
The Timberwolves sub hex worked. Just on the wrong player.
(But seriously, hope he’s okay and back quickly. He’s been incredible)
The celtics just won the finals
Hope he’s back against the Celtics. I fucking hate the Celtics. You guys better beat them!!!!!
“We’ll do it fugging LIVE!” Get well soon, buddy. Your team will nail them to the wall for you.
It’s like what Luka said, they need to win in 4 and then they need to rest. If this Mavs team gets a week off to recover I like their chances in the finals, but if you keep losing guys and this goes 6 or 7 games the finals might just be too much to overcome.
Doesn’t matter. It’s over for them Wolves
This team avoiding getting swept by (inadvertently) injuring the Mavs’ third-best player so bad that it takes him out of the series really leaves a bad taste
I don’t watch the mavs enough 2 know so if kleber comes back will he make up 4 losing lively ? but they play different roles right like isn’t kleber mainly a shooter and not really a big body 2 rebound and play defense ?
Wolves really catching a break with the Mavs injuries. They should definitely be able to take game 4
I boldly told all my friends mavs in 4 before the series
How could Kat do this? Bastard
up 3-0 with a potential concussion basically 0 reason to risk it imo the guy is too valuable for their future (not to mention for player safety reasons you really shouldn’t be risking it in general, but i mean from the team’s perspective)