Mavs’ Lively upgraded to questionable for G5

Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II has been upgraded to questionable for Thursday’s Game 5 against the Minnesota Timberwolves after missing Tuesday’s loss due to a sprained neck.

Luka Doncic is also listed as questionable due to his right knee sprain and lingering soreness in his left ankle. He has been listed as questionable several times during this postseason but played every game.

The Mavs have a 3-1 series lead over the Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals.

Lively, a second-team All-Rookie selection, was injured when Timberwolves power forward Karl-Anthony Towns inadvertently kneed him in the back of the head as Lively fell during the second quarter of Game 3.

Lively, who is 13-of-13 from the floor in the West finals, has the Mavs’ best plus-minus this postseason (plus-109).