Lively (ankle) is questionable for Monday's game against the Hornets.
The questionable tag is an upgrade for Lively after the center missed the past two games for Dallas. If Lively is able to return to action, it's likely that Daniel Gafford will make way back to the bench.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Out again Friday
Rotowire
Lively (ankle) will not play Friday against the Thunder.
Lively will miss his second game in a row, and the fact that he's getting ruled out a day in advance suggests that he's not day-to-day at the moment. His next chance to play will be Monday against Charlotte. Daniel Gafford could continue to see a spike in fantasy appeal in the meantime after putting up 27 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks in 30 minutes against the Pelicans on Wednesday.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Won't return Tuesday
Rotowire
Lively has been ruled out for the remainder of Tuesday's game versus the Nuggets due to a right ankle sprain. He will finish the contest with four points (2-3 FG) and one block in four minutes.
Lively sprained his ankle early in the first quarter and was replaced by Daniel Gafford with 8:04 remaining in the period. The severity of the injury won't be known until Lively undergoes further testing, but he could face an uphill battle to gain clearance for Wednesday's game against the Pelicans. Gafford, Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell are likely to cover most of the minutes at center for the remainder of Tuesday's contest, and any additional games that Lively might miss.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Efficient double-double in loss
Rotowire
Lively dropped 14 points (7-11 FG), grabbed 12 boards, blocked three shots and dished one assist in 33 minutes of play during Monday's 119-104 loss to the Grizzlies.
The sophomore big man recorded his sixth double-double of the season and tied his second-highest marks for blocks and assists while he was at it. In his five games previous, Lively had averaged 7.2 points and 8.4 boards. He'll look to keep building on Monday's performance against the Lakers on Tuesday.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Set to return against Houston
Rotowire
Lively (hip) will be available for Wednesday's game against the Rockets.
After missing the last three games with a hip contusion, Lively will return to the floor for the Mavericks on Wednesday. Head coach Jason Kidd said Lively will have a 15-to-18-minute restriction in his return against Houston.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Listed as questionable again
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Lively (hip) is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Rockets.
Lively has missed three straight games due to a left hip contusion and was listed as questionable ahead of two of those three absences. If the youngster can't suit up, Daniel Gafford should continue to start at center.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Won't go Monday
Rotowire
Lively (hip) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Kings.
Lively will miss his third consecutive outing due to a left hip contusion, and his next chance to return will come Wednesday against the Rockets. Daniel Gafford should draw another start, though Maxi Kleber and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are candidates for an uptick in playing time with Naji Marshall (suspension) also sidelined.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Iffy against Phoenix
Rotowire
Lively is listed as questionable for Friday's game versus the Suns due to a left hip contusion.
Lively is in danger of missing his first game since Dec. 1 on Friday due to a hip injury. If the 20-year-old big man is unable to suit up against Phoenix, Daniel Gafford, Maxi Kleber and Dwight Powell are candidates to receive increased playing time.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Strong double-double in return
Rotowire
Lively closed Tuesday's 121-116 victory over Memphis with 17 points (7-10 FG, 3-7 FT), 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks in 32 minutes.
Lively returned from a one-game absence, playing a season-high 32 minutes. He also recorded a season-best 17 points, tallying his fourth double-double. Although the Mavericks have a more than capable backup in Daniel Gafford, there is a chance coach Jason Kidd is now prepared to lean into Lively a little more. While both should continue to play meaningful roles, Lively is the logical choice to be given the majority of the minutes given his trajectory.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Iffy to play Tuesday vs. Memphis
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Lively (knee) is questionable for Tuesday's game against the Grizzlies, Mark Followill of Bally Sports Southwest reports.
Lively was sidelined for Sunday's game against Portland due to a right knee injury he suffered late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's clash against Utah. Daniel Gafford would be in line to start at center for a second straight game if Lively is unable to play, while Maxi Kleber would see an uptick in playing time off the pine.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Iffy against New York
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Lively (illness) is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game versus the Knicks.
Lively left Dallas' most recent contest early due to an illness and could be forced to sit out Wednesday. If Lively is unable to suit up against New York, Daniel Gafford would likely draw the start.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Won't return Monday
Rotowire
Lively will not return to Monday's game against the Hawks due to an illness.
Lively started the game and was able to play through the first half, during which he posted two points (0-2 FG, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists and two blocks across 11 minutes. With the second-year big man sidelined, the Mavericks will likely turn to Daniel Gafford and Maxi Kleber at center the rest of the way.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Iffy to return Monday
Rotowire
Lively is questionable to return during Monday's game against the Hawks due to an illness, Mavericks beat reporter Landon Thomas reports.
Daniel Gafford started the second half with Lively remaining in the locker room. If the second-year big man is unable to return, Gafford and Maxi Kleber will likely both see an uptick in playing time.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Will remain in starting role
Rotowire
Lively will remain in the starting role "for the next couple of games," head coach Jason Kidd told media, including Landon Thomas of Mavs Fans For Life, in his post-game press conference following Saturday's win over the Spurs. "We'll see how D Live handles these next couple of games as a starter, and then we'll figure out who will start after that. But, D Live has been great."
Lively got the start in Saturday's win over the Spurs and posted seven points, four rebounds, two assists and four blocks across 20 minutes. Even though Daniel Gafford outplayed him with a 22-point, seven-rebound, three-block effort in only 18 minutes, it seems Lively will stay with the first unit for now. There's no timetable for Kidd to make a definitive decision on who will be the starting center going forward -- assuming he'll make one at some point.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Getting starting nod vs. Jazz
Rotowire
Lively will enter the starting lineup in Thursday's game against the Jazz, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.
The 20-year-old will replace Daniel Gafford in the starting five after a solid return from a right shoulder sprain in Tuesday's loss to Golden State, during which Lively recorded 12 points (4-6 FG, 4-7 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one block across 24 minutes. The big man will likely still split minutes with Gafford, and the two should both receive significant playing time with P.J. Washington (knee) out.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Splits minutes with Gafford in return
Rotowire
Lively (shoulder) recorded 12 points (4-6 FG, 4-7 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one block across 24 minutes during Tuesday's 120-117 loss to Golden State.
Back in action after missing the Mavericks' previous four games with a right shoulder sprain, Lively turned in solid numbers while sharing the minutes at center evenly with starter Daniel Gafford. Though Dallas appears content to stick with Gafford as their starter moving forward, Lively will get his share of opportunities off the bench and will often match or exceed Gafford's minutes.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Available to play Tuesday
Rotowire
Lively (shoulder) will be available for Tuesday's game against the Warriors, Kevin Gray Jr. of AllDLLS.com reports.
Lively will return to the rotation after missing the last four games with a right shoulder sprain. The second-year big man is averaging 9.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in six outings off the bench in 2024-25.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Could return Tuesday
Rotowire
Lively (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Tuesday's game against Golden State.
A right shoulder sprain has caused Lively to be sidelined for the Mavericks' last four games, though he has been making progress and is inching closer to a return. If Lively cannot play Tuesday, Dwight Powell will operate as the Mavs' backup center behind Daniel Gafford.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Making progress
Rotowire
Lively (shoulder) practiced Monday and hopes to play Tuesday versus the Warriors, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.
Lively has missed four straight games due to a right shoulder sprain but appears to be nearing a return. His official status for Tuesday's game against the Warriors will be released Monday night.
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Mavericks' Dereck Lively: Out again Friday
Rotowire
Lively (shoulder) will not play in Friday's game against the Suns, Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Lively will miss a third consecutive game, and he will join P.J. Washington (knee) and potentially Maxi Kleber (hamstring) as the key inactives for Friday's game. With Lively out, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell will likely occupy the team's minutes at center.
