Why isn’t Maxi Kleber playing for the Mavs in Game 6 against the Thunder today? Injury update

Power forward Maxi Kleber remains unavailable to the Dallas Mavericks, who today face the Oklahoma Thunder with the chance to clinch their place in the Western Conference finals.

What injury does Kleber have?

Kleber has been out of action since the start of May, after suffering a shoulder injury in Game 6 of the Mavericks’ first-round NBA Playoffs series against the Los Angeles Clippers. The German injured his shoulder when he landed awkwardly in Dallas’ 114-101 win at American Airlines Center - a victory that saw the Texans seal a 4-2 series triumph over the Clippers.

When could Kleber return to action?

“An MRI revealed a right shoulder AC [acromioclavicular] joint separation for forward Maxi Kleber,” Dallas said in a statement on 5 May, adding: “Kleber will be re-evaluated in three weeks.” The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the player was expected to be out “for a significant period of time”, adding that the problem could prevent him from returning to action this season.

However, Kleber was able to take part in practice on Friday - with the Mavericks revealing he did some “light shooting” - and head coach Jason Kidd says the 32-year-old could still feature in the postseason if Dallas progress from the conference semi-finals.

“There is a possibility that he could return,” Kidd told reporters. “It’s great to seem him get his cardio, his blood flow going and getting with the defensive slides. It’s all progress, it’s all going in the right direction. I think that’s a positive for him but also for his team-mates and coaches to see him doing some basketball activity. We’ll see what that timeline looks like as we go forward.”

Who else is on the Mavericks’ injury report?

The Mavericks say their star guard Luka Doncic is probable for Game 6 against the Thunder, as the Slovenian continues to deal with a right knee sprain and soreness in his left ankle. Doncic sustained the knee issue in Game 3 against the Clippers, before hurting his ankle in Game 2 against the Thunder.

Despite his fitness problems, the 25-year-old has appeared in every postseason clash so far. He registered 31 points and 11 assists on Wednesday, as the Mavericks beat the Thunder 104-92 to take a 3-2 series lead.

Alongside Kleber, Olivier Maxence-Prosper is out for the Dallas, as the Canadian recovers from an ankle injury that has prevented him from playing since late April.

Thunder vs Mavericks: Game 6 start time, how to watch

In Game 6 of the Western Conference semi-finals, the Dallas Mavericks host the Oklahoma Thunder today, Saturday 18 May 2024, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 8pm ET/5pm PT.

Viewers in the United States will be able to watch the Game on ABC, and can stream the action on the online platform fuboTV, which offers new users a free trial.

Enjoy the Thunder vs the Mavericks live on fuboTV.

Mavericks a win from the conference finals

Having edged ahead in Game 5 in midweek, the Mavericks will take an unassailable lead in the teams’ best-of-seven series if they beat the Thunder today. Dallas are bidding to secure only their second appearance in the Western Conference finals since lifting their only NBA championship in 2011.

The winners of the conference semi-final will go on to meet either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Denver Nuggets in the conference finals. That series is currently tied at 3-3, after the Timberwolves levelled things up with a 115-70 victory over the defending champions on Thursday.