Dallas Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively II remains questionable for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 7-foot-1 big man tested his sprained neck on Thursday by participating in a 10-minute post-shootaround workout.<\/p>\n
“I was definitely moving,” Lively told reporters when asked how the workout went while he was exiting Target Center. Lively, 20, suffered the injury early in the second quarter of Game 3, when he was kneed in the back of the head by Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Karl-Anthony Towns.<\/p>\n
Lively did not enter the NBA's concussion protocol despite a head injury being the main concern. The Philadelphia native had stiffness and soreness in his neck and back after the injury. Lively said he has regained full range of motion but is still experiencing a bit of soreness.<\/p>\n
“We're not going to call it pain; we're going to call it discomfort,” Lively said. “But everything in my neck was locked up from right after I got hit, so it's just been a lot of treatment, a lot of stretching, just a lot of just listening to what my body's telling me.”<\/p>\n
\nDereck Lively II on if he can do anything explosive yet like catch lobs: “We're gonna try. You guys kind of caught me during the workout, so I can't give you what I can and can't do. Hopefully, I'll be able to just take it step by step.”<\/p>\n
Full interview: https:\/\/t.co\/Ajadtl0zXg<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wDmUUi4SGj<\/a><\/p>\n