Mavericks’ Lively questionable for Game 5 after workout

Dallas Mavericks player Dereck Lively II’s status for Game 5 of the West Conference finals is still questionable after several minutes post-shootaround workout to test how his sprained neck felt while working out.

“Without a doubt, I was moving,” Lively shared with the media when asked how the workout went while the center was leaving the Target Center.

It was the 1^st time that Dereck sprinted and jumped since sustaining the problem at the beginning of the 2^nd quarter of Game 3, when Lively was inadvertently kneed in the back of the head by the Wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns.

Dereck, a 2^nd-team All-Rookie pick, didn’t play in Dallas’ Game 4 defeat.

“At the moment, I don’t know how much I can do,” the center added before reporters were cleared from the Target Center court for his individual workout. “At the moment, we are learning what I can do. Just testing what is going to bring up red flags and what doesn’t concern me to do.”

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Dereck Lively II on if he can do anything explosive yet like catch lobs: "We're gonna try. You guys kind of caught me during the workout, so I can't give you what I can and can't do. Hopefully, I'll be able to just take it step by step."

Full interview: https://t.co/Ajadtl0zXg pic.twitter.com/wDmUUi4SGj

— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) May 30, 2024