Mavs’ Dereck Lively II Suffers Injury Before Pacers Game
DALLAS - Injuries are unfair. During warmups before Monday’s contest between the Dallas Mavericks and the Indiana Pacers, Dereck Lively II suffered an injury. Lively will miss Monday’s game and possibly more to follow.
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
According to the team, Lively suffered a right shoulder sprain during warmups. Lively hasn’t missed a game this season, and has excelled as the second-string center, coming off the bench to supplement Daniel Gafford.
Pacers starting center Myles Turner has one less demanding center to defend and score against. The dominant duo of Lively and Gafford would have challenged Turner, as he averages only four rebounds per contest. However, the show must go on, regardless of hypothetical advantages.
The Mavs face a Pacers team with multiple injuries to their frontcourt, as James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson both suffered season-ending Achilles injuries. Moreover, Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith will miss Monday’s contest with an ankle sprain. To put it kindly, the Pacers likely don't have much sympathy for the Mavs regarding injuries.
Reserve center Dwight Powell will fill Lively’s role as backup center until the second-year center recovers from injury.
Powell is the longest-tenured current player on the Mavericks, and has chemistry with Luka Doncic as a rim-running center, and hustler on defense.
