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Mavs' Dereck Lively II available for Game 5 after with neck injury

The Mavs return to Minnesota for Game 5 on Thursday night.

DALLAS — As the Dallas Mavericks prep for a potential series-winning Game 5 on Thursday night, the status of one of the rookies was unveiled nearly an hour before tip-off. 

Rookie Center Dereck Lively II was knocked out of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals when he took a knee to the back of his head

"At first I was a little scared of a concussion because -- you know -- you get a knee to the back of the neck, the head," Lively said when discussing his injury on Thursday.  "But I'm here, 20-20 vision, I'm able to speak, I'm able to remember. "

While Lively is happy to avoid a concussion, the injury still came with debilitating side effects. 

"Everything in my neck was locked up from right after I got hit. So, it's just been a lot of treatment, a lot of stretching," Lively added. 

Just before 6:30 p.m., the Mavericks said Lively would be available for Game 5

During Thursday morning's shootaround, Lively said he's not in pain, but discomfort. 

"It kind of just makes a chain reaction go down your back, go down your neck. So, just trying to be able to just be more cautious of my body. Trying to figure out what I can and can't do, just testing it out," Lively explained. 

Lively has been playing a pivotal role as a defender in the paint, all while averaging 8.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists during the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

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