What happened to Dereck Lively II? Latest injury update for Mavericks center (Jan. 14)
The Dallas Mavericks suffered another major injury blow on Tuesday after center Dereck Lively II, on a four-year, $22,282,691 rookie-scale contract, exited the game against the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets.
Lively sustained a right ankle sprain in the first half of the contest after stepping on Nikola Jokic's foot. He attempted to return, doing some band work on the sidelines, but headed to the locker room shortly and didn't return.
The Mavericks are already shorthanded, with Luka Doncic sidelined. This was also the first game for Kyrie Irving since he suffered a back injury on Jan. 1. Dallas needed Lively in this game after trailing by 21 in the opening half. The sophomore center was reliable in the paint, especially against reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
Lively played only four minutes, tallying four points on 2 of 3 shots. Daniel Gafford replaced him with the starting group while Dwight Powell covered for him off the bench.
Jason Kidd offers straightforward injury update on Dereck Lively II after Mavericks lose again
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd has a straightforward injury update regarding center Dereck Lively II after Tuesday's game.
"Hurt. Didn't come back. Sprained ankle," Kidd told reporters.
Lively's early absence may have played a part in the eventual outcome of the game, as the Mavericks lost 118-99. Once he exited, there's not much the Mavericks defense could do to limit the Nuggets, who rode off some excellent shotmaking from Jamal Murray early in the contest. Murray had 45 points on 18 of 26 shots.
The Mavericks had no counter to that or on the glass as the Nuggets outrebounded Dallas 51-30. Lively would have provided some resistance in the paint because of his size and rim protection. Contrary to the league-wide trending reliance on the 3-point shot, Denver's system leans on paint touches and quality shots inside the arc.
Teams that lack interior defensive threats are easy to expose for the likes of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook. Nevertheless, without Luka Doncic, it was always going to be an uphill task, and even if Dereck Lively II played, it would have offered the Mavericks a fighting chance at best.