3 key players II OUT for the Mavericks against the Raptors; details

DALLAS — Ahead of the Dallas Mavericks’ matchup against the Toronto Raptors, Dereck Lively II was added to the injury report. His status was questionable for Wednesday’s game before being ruled out.

Aside from the players signed to two-way contracts being placed on G League assignment, the Mavs’ injury report only included Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning. Kleber was declared active to play ahead of the game.

After not being at Mavs’ morning shootaround at American Airlines Center, Lively was added to the team’s injury report. He is considered questionable to play due to a non-COVID illness.

The Mavs did deploy small ball lineups that featured Derrick Jones Jr. at center in the second half of their win against the Orlando Magic on Sunday following Lively experiencing foul trouble. Dallas pushed the pace offensively and created advantages defensively by swarming in the half-court.

“I thought the small ball with D. Jones (Derrick Jones Jr.) at the five was good for us tonight,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said on Monday. “As much as we tried it in Denver, it didn’t quite work. But again, I thought the rebounding and holding those guys to one for 16 from the 3-point line in the second half was big for us.”

Without Lively in the lineup, the Mavs would lose their only true seven-footer and his 7-foot-7 wingspan, which has proven helpful in protecting the rim and completing play-finishing sequences early in the game. He has averaged 9.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists in seven games.

Kleber, who is averaging 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 points, and 1.5 assists in four games this season, has been sidelined for the Mavs’ two previous games as he recovers from his toe injury. He has been considered questionable to play on the team’s daily injury reports since the injury occurred last Wednesday during the victory over the Chicago Bulls.