With the Dallas Mavericks just one win away from clinching their first NBA Finals berth since 2011, the team released a lengthy injury report that includes four players ahead of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Starting with arguably the best player on the Mavericks, Luka Doncic is questionable to play on Tuesday night thanks to injuries to his left ankle and right knee. Dallas big man Maxi Kleber — who hasn’t logged a single minute of playing time for the Mavericks since the start of the Western Conference Finals — has also been ruled as questionable due to a shoulder impingement.
Additionally, recent NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection Dereck Lively II (neck sprain) is doubtful to take the floor for Dallas, while rookie forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (left ankle sprain) has been ruled out.
The Timberwolves’ injury report is much shorter in comparison to that of Dallas, considering Mike Conley, who’s listed as questionable with a right soleus strain, is the only player on Minnesota’s injury report.
The Mavericks would surely feel the absence of Doncic — who is the straw that stirs the drink of Dallas’ offense — if he were to miss Tuesday’s Game 4. The Slovenian has carved up Minnesota’s defense across the opening three games of the Western Conference Finals, as he has scored 30-plus points in every game and is averaging 32.7 points per game on 46.4 percent shooting from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range along with 7.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists per contest for the series.
If the Mavericks close out this best-of-seven series on Tuesday night, they will have a long break ahead of them, considering Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for June 6. Conversely, if the Mavericks pick up their first loss of the Western Conference Finals, Game 5 of the series will take place on Thursday at Target Center.
Regardless of the final outcome of Tuesday’s game, considering no team in NBA playoff history has come all the way back from an 0-3 deficit to win a Game 7, expect the Mavericks to advance past the Timberwolves and play the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
