The Dallas Mavericks will look to close things out in the 2024 Western Conference finals again this Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, they may have to try finishing off Anthony Edwards and the T’wolves anew without the services of rookie big man Dereck Lively II.
The first-year center out of Duke suffered an upper-body injury in Game 3 when he got inadvertently hit in the head by the knee of Minnesota star Karl-Anthony Towns.
That caused Lively to miss Game 4, where the Mavericks suffered a 105-100 home loss.
Will Dereck Lively II play in Game 5 of the Dallas Mavericks vs. Minnesota Timberwolves series?
![Dallas Mavericks: Dereck Lively II Gets Striking Injury Update Ahead of Game 5 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 1 USATSI 23353921 168400517 lowres](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_23353921_168400517_lowres.jpg)
Lively seems to have a good chance of returning to action in Game 5.
Via Mark Followill:
For Game 5 of the Mavs and Timberwolves tomorrow night, Dereck Lively II has been upgraded to questionable. He missed a lot of Game 3 and was unavailable in Game 4 due to a neck sprain.
The official NBA injury report for Thursday also has Lively listed as questionable with the same neck sprain that forced him out of Game 4.
![Dallas Mavericks: Dereck Lively II Gets Striking Injury Update Ahead of Game 5 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 2 May 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) warms up before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves in game three of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_23395460_168400517_lowres-scaled.jpg)
Lively was among the most reliable peripheral Mavericks weapons before he suffered the injury. So far in the series, he is averaging 9.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game. He is also shooting 100% from the field in the series. Plus, Lively is leading the Mavs in the conference finals with 3.0 offensive rebounds per outing.
![Dallas Mavericks: Dereck Lively II Gets Striking Injury Update Ahead of Game 5 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 3 May 26, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II (2) reacts after an injury in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves during game three of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports](https://www.hardwoodheroics.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/USATSI_23396454_168400517_lowres-scaled.jpg)
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