DALLAS \u2014 At least one of the Dallas Mavericks\u2019 key frontcourt players is expected to be back in the lineup Friday against the LA Clippers.<\/p>\n
Dereck Lively II, who has missed the previous nine games with a right knee sprain, is expected to make his return in Dallas\u2019 NBA Cup group stage game.<\/p>\n
Lively last played Oct. 26 in Dallas\u2019 home win over the Toronto Raptors. Afterward, felt discomfort in his right leg, he said. He was initially listed as out with a right knee contusion, but medical testing revealed his injury was more significant.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou just have to listen to what (the) doc(tor) said,\u201d Lively said. \u201cIt took some time to get the results back. We had to listen to what it was. Can\u2019t lie to y\u2019all. Have to be honest. We are not going to go out there and say it was nothing. I had to listen to my body. I had to give my body some time to rest.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mavericks (3-9) are in 14th place in the Western Conference. On Tuesday, the team fired general manager Nico Harrison<\/a>, who was with the Mavericks in 2023 when they acquired Lively in a draft-night trade. Lively started 42 games in his rookie season and played an important role on a Mavericks squad that advanced to the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n Lively called the Mavericks\u2019 decision to move on from Harrison \u201cthings that are out of my control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have to be focused on the team,\u201d Lively said. \u201cGetting this \u2018W\u2019 today. And bringing as much effort and energy that we possibly can. We are focused on each day and just trying to stay present.\u201d<\/p>\n Lively, 21, has been a difference-maker when he\u2019s suited up. Injury issues, however, have kept him sidelined for long stretches in each of his first three seasons. He dealt with a stress fracture in his right ankle last year, which contributed to his appearing in only 36 games. He has played in 94 games in his career.<\/p>\n Fellow Mavericks big man Anthony Davis has also missed the majority of this season. Davis, who declined to speak with the media Friday at shootaround and is listed as questionable against the Clippers, strained his left calf<\/a>\u00a0in the Mavericks\u2019 Oct. 29 game against the Indiana Pacers. He has asked the Mavericks to let him play, but the team\u2019s medical staff has forbidden it<\/a> due to concern that he could suffer a worse injury \u2014 such as a torn Achilles \u2014 if he plays before he\u2019s physically ready.<\/p>\n