Why isn’t the Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber playing in Game 2 against the Thunder today?

The Dallas Mavericks will again be without Maxi Kleber in Game 2 against the Oklahoma Thunder today, after the German suffered a shoulder injury against the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday.

How did Kleber get injured?

Kleber damaged his shoulder when he landed awkwardly in the the Mavericks’ 114-101 win over the Clippers, a game that saw Dallas clinch a 4-2 victory in their NBA Playoffs first-round series against the Californians.

The Mavericks are 1-0 down to the Thunder in the Western Conference semi-finals, after losing 117-95 to the top-seeded Oklahoma in Game 1 on Tuesday. The winner of the series will advance to a conference final against either the Minnesota Timberwolves or defending champions the Denver Nuggets.

What injury does Kleber have?

“An MRI revealed a right shoulder AC [acromioclavicular] joint separation for forward Maxi Kleber,” Dallas said in a statement on Sunday, adding: “Kleber will be re-evaluated in three weeks.”

The Mavericks’ best-of-seven series against the Thunder is scheduled to run until 20 May at the latest, so the power-forward looks certain to miss the conference semi-finals in their entirety. The 32-year-old is also expected to miss at least the opening games of the conference finals if the Texans beat Oklahoma.

Who else is on the Mavericks’ injury report?

The Mavericks say their star guard Luka Doncic is probable for Game 2, despite carrying a right knee sprain. The Slovenian has been struggling with the issue since Game 3 against the Clippers, but has appeared in every postseason clash since then.

However, Doncic was below-par in Tuesday’s defeat to the Thunder, scoring 19 points. In his six games against the Clippers, he had averaged 29.8.

Together with Kleber, Olivier Maxence-Prosper is out for the Mavericks, as the Canadian recovers from an ankle injury that has sidelined him since late April.

Mavericks vs Thunder: Game 2 start time, how to watch

In Game 2 of the Western Conference semi-finals, the Dallas Mavericks face the Oklahoma Thunder today, Thursday 9 May 2024, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30pm ET/6:30pm PT.

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

Enjoy the Mavericks vs the Thunder live on fuboTV.

When did Mavs, Thunder last win NBA championship?

The No. 5 seed in the Western Conference, the Mavericks are chasing their second NBA title, and their first since 2011. The Thunder won their only championship in 1979, before the franchise’s 2008 move to Oklahoma. At the time, they comPeted as the Seattle SuperSonics.