The Dallas Mavericks will be without center Dereck Lively II for about two to three months due to a stress fracture in his right ankle, Afrosport reports.
Lively has missed the Mavericks’ last four games, including Wednesday’s home tie against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the team announced that the 20-year-old will be re-evaluated in a month.
The Dallas Mavericks announced today that Mavericks center Dereck Lively II sustained a right ankle stress fracture.
Lively will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 22, 2025
Four other players were listed as out by Dallas ahead of the game against the Timberwolves, including four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson (left ankle sprain).
“Next man up,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “That’s why you have a team. We’ve been through this before.”
Lively has been important for the defending Western Conference champions, having played a marquee role in their run to the NBA Finals in his rookie season.
The former 12th overall pick is averaging 9.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks across 32 games while shooting 70.1% from the floor this season.
The Mavericks (23-20) entered Wednesday’s game against Minnesota seventh in the West.
