Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Thursday that rookie Dereck Lively II will likely miss an additional game after undergoing a medical procedure this week.
Lively was diagnosed with a nasal fracture after he was inadvertently struck in the face by Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. on Jan. 29. He underwent a procedure on Monday to reset his nose and is expected to return to the court soon.
The 12th pick missed his fifth straight game on Thursday due to the injury. He wasn’t with the team on its three-game road trip and will likely sit on Saturday when it plays host to Oklahoma City.
“I don’t foresee Lively playing Saturday,” Kidd said prior to facing the New York Knicks. “As of right now, if you ask me today, I don’t know if he plays Saturday. You’re going to have to ask me tomorrow, but, right now, he is most likely out.”
Lively practiced with the Mavericks on Feb. 2 for the first time in a protective mask. He will likely need it once he is cleared to play after the surgery and could be required to keep it on for the foreseeable future to prevent further damage.
The 19-year-old has started 35 of his 36 games, averaging 9.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 assists on 73.9% shooting from the field. He ranks among the rookie leaders in several categories: points (10th), rebounds (second), offensive rebounds (first) and blocks (third).
Lively was among the 11 first-year players selected to participate in the NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend. He became the first Mavericks player picked to compete in the annual showcase since Luka Doncic in 2019 and 2020.
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