As the Dallas Mavericks prep for a potential series-winning Game 5 on May 30, 2024, the status of one of the rookies was unveiled nearly an hour before tip-off. Rookie Center Dereck Lively II was knocked out of Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals when he took a knee to the back of his head. "At first I was a little scared of a concussion because -- you know -- you get a knee to the back of the neck, the head," Lively said when discussing his injury on Thursday. "But I'm here, 20-20 vision, I'm able to speak, I'm able to remember. " While Lively is happy to avoid a concussion, the injury still came with debilitating side effects. "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," Lively added. Just before 6:30 p.m., the Mavericks said Lively would be available for Game 5. FULL STORY: https://www.wfaa.com/article/sports/nba/mavericks/mavs-dereck-lively-ii-remains-questionable-heading-into-game-5/287-59d52296-9419-4d19-8078-cd38912205c6