Mavericks center Dereck Lively II is projected to return Friday night when Dallas hosts the Los Angeles Clippers at American Airlines Center, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The 21-year-old rookie has missed the last nine games with a right knee sprain suffered on October 26. Speaking with reporters Friday morning, Lively stopped short of confirming his availability, smiling and saying, “Time will tell.”
Dallas has dealt with a depleted frontcourt since the season opened. Daniel Gafford sat out the first five games because of an ankle sprain, returning November 1. Anthony Davis remains sidelined by a calf strain, and team governor Patrick Dumont reportedly wants medical evidence that the injury will not be aggravated before approving Davis’s return.
Lively, who underwent offseason ankle surgery, started Dallas’s first three contests, averaging 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 blocks in 16.7 minutes while shooting 77.8 percent (7-of-9). The Mavericks posted a +11.8 net rating during his 51 total minutes on the floor.
Friday’s matchup features two Western Conference clubs looking to rebound from slow starts. Dallas enters at 3-9; Los Angeles is 3-8.
Source: Hoops Rumors
