Dallas Mavericks’ towering forward Maxi Kleber is poised to stage a return for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against Minnesota on Tuesday, according to a tweet from Marc Stein.
The team has been reticent about offering concrete updates concerning Kleber’s comeback, commenting only on his upgraded status to a questionable player for the imminent contest. Yet, Stein intimates that he should be fit to play unless an unforeseen complication emerges prior to game time.
Sustaining a dislocated right shoulder AC joint during game 6 against the Clippers in the opening round of the playoffs, the mishap took place on May 3. Post-incident, the franchise announced that Kleber would be out of action for at least three weeks before undergoing further evaluation. Stein hinted on a recent Sunday that the team harbored optimism for Kleber’s possible return for the NBA Finals; now, it seems he might beat the anticipated timetable for his return.
Whether Kleber can regain his prior form post-injury remains to be seen, but the Mavericks are hopeful he can contribute positively at the center positions, especially in light of center Dereck Lively‘s absence for Tuesday. Lively is contending with a neck sprain from the third game win and has been listed as doubtful for the fourth game.
Best known for his defensive capabilities, Kleber was limited to 43 appearances in the regular season due to various ailments. During these games, he managed to contribute, on average, 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists over 20.3 minutes per game. Significantly, his playing time increased to an average of 19.3 minutes per contest in the first playoff series, enhancing his scoring to 5.7 points per game and connecting on an impressive 55.6% of his three-pointers (10-of-18).
Image Source: Maxi Kleber @ Instagram
