Dallas Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively on Sunday entered concussion protocol after taking a huge blow to the head during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lively was injured early in the second quarter while battling for a rebound. Timberwolves big man Karl-Anthony Towns inadvertently kneed Lively in the back of the head as the latter was falling to the floor at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Dereck Lively takes a hit to the head and has left to the locker room
Wishing him well pic.twitter.com/s7K4VGuY2B
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 27, 2024
Lively laid motionless while holding onto the back of his head for over a minute. He eventually got back on his feet but was visibly shaken up after the blow. Mavericks teammates helped him to the locker room, where the rookie was checked for a possible concussion.
Referee Tony Brothers announced that the Mavs wouldn't be charged a timeout for the break in the action when Dereck Lively went down "due to the concussion protocol." With that announcement, I have a hard time seeing Lively returning to Game 3.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 27, 2024
WE AIN’T NO DOCTOR BUT WE THINK DERECK LIVELY HAS SUFFERED A CONCUSSION
JUST LOOK AT THIS pic.twitter.com/X3mjPbw8uI
— Dallas Nation (@TheDallasNation) May 27, 2024
Lively exited the contest with 6 points and 3 rebounds on 3/3 shooting from the field. The 20-year-old has been a huge part of the Mavericks’ playoff run with averages of 8.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on 63.9% shooting.
Lively has been a key cog off the Mavericks’ bench throughout the postseason. Both Lively and starting center Daniel Gafford have served as sturdy rim protectors for Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd.
