While it doesn’t make up for Dereck Lively II being out with a neck sprain, Dallas got some good news about depth along the front line:
Maxi Kleber is set to make his return from a shoulder separation in Game 4, according to multiple reports.
Dallas’ Maxi Kleber (shoulder) has been cleared to make his return tonight vs. Timberwolves with Mavericks one win away from the NBA Finals, sources say. https://t.co/zVqVhOadSL
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 28, 2024
Kleber is not a household name or a guy with impressive counting stats — 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds a game this season — but he brings real value in this series. First, he’s a plus defender who can protect the rim a little, and switch out on picks and hold his own. Second, he has to be respected from 3, where he shot 34.8% this season.
Kleber is a solid stretch five who can play minutes when starter Daniel Gafford goes to the bench for Jason Kidd. That is a plus because it keeps the Mavericks out of the small-ball, P.J. Washington at center minutes (although expect some of that).
The Mavericks are up 3-0 on the Timberwolves and would like to close the series out at home on Tuesday, giving Luka Doncic and his ailing knee more than a week off before the start of the NBA Finals in Boston on June 6.
