Dallas Mavericks' Dereck Lively II Sidelined with Right Foot Swelling

The Dallas Mavericks announced on Tuesday that center Dereck Lively II will be sidelined for a minimum of three more games as he deals with swelling and discomfort in his right foot. Lively, who has already missed the last two contests, is scheduled for a follow-up evaluation within seven to ten days.

Standing at 7-foot-1, Lively has struggled with the same foot since last season, which restricted him to just 36 games. During the offseason, he underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from the affected foot.

The 21-year-old has played in only seven games this season, averaging 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in roughly 16.4 minutes per game. He has not exceeded 21 minutes in any game and has started four times. His last outing was on Friday against the New Orleans Pelicans, registering four points and four rebounds in 18 minutes.

Selected 12th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, Lively holds career averages of 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds across 98 games with 75 starts over three seasons. He boasts an impressive field goal percentage of 72.8%.

The Mavericks, currently holding a 5-14 record, began a four-game road trip with a narrow 106-102 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday night.