Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II and star player Luka Doncic are both questionable for Thursday's crucial Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lively missed the previous game due to a sprained neck, while Doncic continues to battle a right knee sprain and left ankle soreness, although he has played in every postseason game despite his questionable status.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding their key players' availability, the Mavericks hold a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals. The potential return of Lively, a pivotal presence in the lineup, could provide a significant boost to Dallas as they aim to close out the series and advance to the NBA Finals.
Lively, recognized with a second-team All-Rookie selection, sustained his injury in Game 3 when Timberwolves' Karl-Anthony Towns inadvertently collided with him, resulting in a sprained neck. Despite the setback, Lively has been instrumental for the Mavericks, boasting a perfect shooting record in the Western Conference finals and maintaining the team's best plus-minus this postseason with a remarkable plus-109.
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