A Serious Blow

Dallas Mavericks Rookie Dereck Lively II Suffers Head Injury in Game 3

A Serious Blow

Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II exited Sunday's Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter after sustaining a head injury. Lively was helped off the court and did not return to the game.

The Incident

Lively was injured when he was hit in the back of the head by a stray knee from Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards. The impact knocked Lively to the floor, where he remained motionless for several minutes. He was eventually helped to his feet and taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

The Mavericks announced that Lively suffered a concussion. He is expected to undergo further testing to determine the extent of the injury and his availability for the rest of the playoffs.

Conclusion

Lively's injury is a major blow to the Mavericks, who are currently trailing the Timberwolves 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinals. Lively has been a key contributor for Dallas, averaging 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in his rookie season. His absence would be a significant loss for the Mavericks as they try to rally back in the series.