Dereck Lively II’s brief appearance in the Dallas Mavericks’ 114–101 preseason win over the Utah Jazz wasn’t a sign of concern — it was part of the plan.
Head coach Jason Kidd confirmed Tuesday that Lively’s eight-minute stint was fully scripted as the Mavericks manage minutes and evaluate rotation combinations ahead of Wednesday’s preseason finale against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jason Kidd: “Everything Is Scripted”
When asked whether Lively’s limited run was planned, Kidd made it clear there was no injury setback behind the decision.
“Yeah, everything is scripted,” Kidd said following Tuesday’s practice at T-Mobile Arena. “Lively had an eight-minute script with that first group to see him in that rotation. He did great. So yes, that was the plan to limit him yesterday.”
Lively started alongside Anthony Davis in the team’s jumbo lineup, which also featured Cooper Flagg, P.J. Washington, and Klay Thompson. Kidd said the staff wanted to evaluate that combination early before turning attention toward ramping up Davis’ workload.
“The first group was really good on both sides of the ball,” Kidd said. “The pace was good, and defensively, to have a rating of 99 was really good. That means those guys were playing at a high level.”
Dallas Mavericks Continue to Ramp Up
With one preseason game remaining, Kidd said the Mavericks plan to increase playing time for key contributors as the team continues building conditioning and chemistry.
“Everybody’s minutes will go up tomorrow,” Kidd said. “Going into this being our last preseason game, we’ll try to get those guys extended minutes. Things were going well for AD, and we were looking to maybe get him into the fourth. Tomorrow, we’ll probably get everyone trending toward that fourth quarter.”
Davis, who posted 25 points and six rebounds in 25 minutes against Utah, said he feels confident in his rhythm as he and the team continue adjusting to assistant coach Jay Triano’s fast-paced offensive system.
“I feel good,” Davis said. “Still got some things to clean up, still working on things, but overall, I think myself and the team feel really good about where we are.”
Health Trending Up
The Mavericks’ injury report is beginning to improve as preseason winds down. Kidd said Caleb Martin and Brandon Williams both completed practice Tuesday, while Danté Exum, Daniel Gafford, and Kyrie Irving remain out.
“Caleb and Brandon Williams went through practice,” Kidd said. “The guys who didn’t were Danté Exum, Daniel Gafford, and Kyrie Irving. We’ll see how Caleb feels tomorrow and then we’ll make that call, but I thought he did a good job for his first day back.”
What’s Next
Lively is expected to see an increased workload in Wednesday’s preseason finale against the Lakers as the Mavericks finalize rotations before opening night on Oct. 22 against the San Antonio Spurs. Kidd emphasized that the focus will be on conditioning, rhythm, and evaluating lineup versatility.
“Everything was good yesterday, so now we’ll see if we can be consistent and carry it into tomorrow,” Kidd said.
Latest Dallas Mavericks News & NBA Rumors
- NBA News: Jason Kidd Signed Multi-Year Extension With Dallas Mavericks
- NBA News: “We’ll Ramp Everyone Up”: Dallas Mavericks Health Improving As Key Players’ Minutes Set To Increase In Preseason Finale
- NBA News: “We’ll Get Him More Minutes”: Ryan Nembhard Emerging As Standout For Dallas Mavericks Ahead Of Finale Against Los Angeles Lakers
- NBA News: Anthony Davis’ Minutes To Increase Against Los Angeles Lakers As ‘Ramp Up’ Continues
- NBA News: Dallas Mavericks Plan To Start Jumbo Lineup vs. Los Angeles Lakers Again With Cooper Flagg At Point Guard
- NBA News: “We Can Do Both”: Dallas Mavericks Outlast Utah Jazz Behind Anthony Davis’ 25 Points, Defensive Dominance
- NBA News: Dallas Mavericks To Experiment With Cooper Flagg At Point Guard In Preseason Game vs. Utah Jazz
- NBA News: “He Can Still Compete”: Dallas Mavericks Confident In Klay Thompson As Team Defines On-Ball Defense
