The frontcourt of the Dallas Mavericks has become sparser. Maxi Kleber, a forward, tore his right hamstring during practice on the 13th of December, and the team reports that he will be out indefinitely. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Kleber is anticipated to miss 6 to 8 weeks due to the injury.
Kleber has been a reliable rotation player for the Mavs this year, averaging 6 points, two rebounds, and one block in 25 minutes per game. In 22 games this season, all as a substitute, he is shooting a career-best 49 percent overall and 36.9 percent on 3-pointers. In September, Kleber agreed to an extension worth $33 million over three years.
His absence likely frees up more playing time for Christian Wood, a fellow reserve who is the team’s sixth player and currently ranks fourth on the squad in total fourth-quarter minutes played. Having played the sixth-most whole fourth-quarter minutes on the team, Kleber was frequently involved in games’ final minutes.
Dallas (14-14) is two games behind the LA Clippers in sixth place in the Western Conference and is currently in ninth place overall. The Mavs play about 20 games without Kleber and embark on two lengthy road trips (Dec. 17–23 and January. 8–15), which they would face with a diminished frontcourt.
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