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

Like two ships in the night. The Dallas Mavericks get one guy back, and almost just as soon lose another. Mavs center Dereck Lively II suffered a sprained right ankle less than four minutes into Tuesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets and exited the floor with the training staff.

DALLAS — Dereck Lively II exited Tuesday's Denver Nuggets- Dallas Mavericks game with a right ankle sprain. The Mavs announced before the second quarter that Lively will not return to the game. Lively has played a pivotal role in the Mavs' recent success, and he will unquestionably be missed for the remainder of the game on Tuesday night.