The Mavericks expected Tim Hardaway Jr. to be out for Game 3 after he sprained his right ankle in Game 2 on Tuesday.
They found out Thursday that that’s the case after the Mavericks practiced in advance of Friday’s meeting with the Los Angeles Clippers at American Airlines Center with the series tied at a win apiece.
Less certain is whether starting center Daniel Gafford will be available. He suffered a lower-back injury in Game 2 and did not practice on Thursday.
Coach Jason Kidd said Gafford is questionable for Game 3.
In a best-of-seven series that is getting progressively more physical, losing Gafford for any tangible amount of time would put more stress on the Mavericks.
“It’ going to be physical all the way to the end,” Kidd said. “That’s just the way this series is set up. Who can absorb it and who can embrace it is the one that has come out on top. And it’s going to be physical (in Game 3).”
So how does it impact the Mavericks if Gafford is a no-go or limited?
The good news is that rookie Dereck Lively II is coming off a terrific Game 2 in relieve of Gafford. And he was a starter for large chunks of the regular season.
He has shown no hesitancy in the playoffs about mixing it up in the paint.
“He was good in Game 1. He was really good in Game 2,” Kidd said. “If Gaff is out, we’re going to need him to be good in Game 3.
“We’re not asking them (Maxi Kleber or Lively) to do anything different. And we can also look at some other guys to step into that role, too.”
In Game 2, Lively had seven points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. Kleber also filled in off the bench with six points and six rebounds in 28 minutes. Those have been the only two big men off the bench behind Gafford.
And both of them are ready for warfare in the paint.
“I don’t know on a scale, but it’s been pretty physical,” Kleber said. “They let you get away with a lot of things on both sides. That’s what they talk about when they say playoff basketball. We just got to match the energy every time and play physical.”
There could be room for somebody else behind Kleber and Lively, either Dwight Powell or Markieff Morris if situations call for it because of fouls or whatnot.
It will not be Olivier Maxence-Prosper, who suffered an ankle sprain in practice on Thursday and has been ruled out of Game 3.
It’s become clear, though that Kleber is the preferred closer when the game is on the line. It was that way in the last month of the regular season and has remained that way in Game 2 when the outcome came down to the final possessions.
“He always tends to be a positive on the floor defensively,” Kidd said of Kleber. “And then offensively, he’s making the right plays. In the fourth quarter, he made big plays. And then offensively, he made a big three. And also being the quarterback coming out of the double teams and finding the right guy. He’s done that for us in this series.”
Briefly: Kidd was asked several questions Thursday about how he handles a shorter playoff rotation and players that normally would be in that rotation who may get reduced minutes or none at all. He said this is no time for changing his method of operation. “Right now it’s about winning and doing everything to win,” Kidd said. “And sometimes minutes can be down or minutes can be up. Everything’s about the team. But it’s all about winning. Sometimes the rotation will shorten. Just be truthful (with players) in the moment. That’s the way I’ve always been and will continue to be.” . . . Kleber said one of the things that has driven the Mavericks is the defensive effort Luka Dončić has given late in the season and in the first two playoff games. “That’s a big step because it helps everybody else,” he said. “Sometimes there’s one play picked out where he maybe missed something. But it’s a long game and everybody has mess-ups in the game. He’s a very smart defender and is in the right positions and helps the team.” . . . The LA Clippers traveled into Dallas on Wednesday and had a practice at AAC on Thursday.
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