Dereck Lively II will miss at least the next three games dealing with a right foot injury, the Dallas Mavericks announced on Tuesday.
The Mavericks center underwent surgery on his right foot in July to clean out bone spurs, and he’s sat out their last two games. The Mavericks changed his listing on the injury report to note right foot injury management ahead of Monday night’s 106-102 loss to the Miami Heat.
Lively is now dealing with “swelling and discomfort” in his right foot, the team said. He will miss the next three games for the Mavericks while they wrap up a four-game road trip and will be evaluated in seven to 10 days. If he is out for just a week, Lively could return in time for Dallas’ game with the Heat on Dec. 3.
Lively has averaged 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game this season, though he’s appeared in only seven contests. The former Duke star missed nine games earlier this fall due to a sprained right knee. He also missed more than two months last season due to a stress fracture in his right ankle.
The Mavericks have struggled this season, and hold just a 5-14 record. Monday night’s loss was the seventh in a nine-game stretch, too.
The franchise also officially split with general manager Nico Harrison, who was responsible for the Luka Dončić trade last season, earlier this month after continued criticism from fans. That saga largely overshadowed Cooper Flagg’s debut after the team selected him with the No. 1 overall pick earlier this summer. Flagg has averaged 15.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game so far this season.
The Mavericks will be back in action on Friday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
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