Update: Mavericks' Dereck Lively II (foot) to be sidelined for 2-3 months

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Lively II was forced to leave that game in the first quarter with what the team called a right ankle sprain. He has not played since then as Dallas has gone 1-3 during that span. This season, he is averaging 9.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 blocks while shooting 70.1% overall.

The second-year center has seven double-doubles and, teamed with veteran Daniel Gafford, gives Dallas a two-man shot-blocking rotation. Lively appeared in all 21 of the Mavs’  playoff games as the team made the 2024 NBA Finals and is the team’s starting center this season.

Mavs standout guard Luka Dončić has been sidelined since straining his left calf during a Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is scheduled to be reevaluated in the last week of January. Dallas (23-20) has 39 games left in its season, 19 of which are on the road.

Assuming Lively is out three months, he would likely be able to return for the postseason. The Mavs are No. 7 in the Western Conference standings entering Wednesday night, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers by one game for No. 6 while holding a 1/2 game lead over the No. 8 Sacramento Kings.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.