What happened to Dereck Lively II? Latest injury update for Mavericks center (Jan. 14) 

The Dallas Mavericks suffered another major injury blow on Tuesday after center Dereck Lively II, on a four-year $22,282,691 rookie-scale contract, exited the game against the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets. Lively sustained a right ankle sprain in the first half of the contest. He attempted to return, doing some band work on the sidelines, but headed to the locker room shortly and didn't return.

The Mavericks are already shorthanded, with Luka Doncic sidelined. This was also the first game for Kyrie Irving since he suffered a back injury on Jan. 1. Dallas needed Lively in this game after trailing by 21 in the opening half. The sophomore center was reliable in the paint, especially against reigning three-time MVP Nikola Jokic.

Lively played only four minutes, tallying four points on 2 of 3 shots. Daniel Gafford replaced him with the starting group while Dwight Powell covered for him off the bench.