Kleber logged 10 points (2-4 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 5-6 FT), four rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes during Friday's 111-110 win over the Lakers.
Kleber was quiet for almost the entire game Friday, but he came through when Dallas needed him most. He was fouled by Anthony Davis on a three-point try with seven seconds remaining and proceeded to knock down all three foul shots to bring the Mavericks to within a point. After Davis missed one of two free-throws on the other end, Kyrie Irving got the ball to Kleber just in time for the big man to take and make a buzzer-beating, game-winning triple. Kleber ended with double-digit points for the first time since he scored 13 against the Knicks on Dec. 3.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Poor outing against Spurs
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Kleber notched three points (1-4 FG, 1-3 3Pt), two rebounds and two assists over 28 minutes during Wednesday's 137-128 overtime win over San Antonio.
Kleber struggled to make an impact in the 28 minutes he logged, and both Dwight Powell and Christian Wood visibly outplayed him. However, this might have been nothing more than a bad outing. Whether Kleber starts again may be determined by Tim Hardaway's (calf) status.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Making first start of season
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Kleber will enter the first unit for Wednesday's game against the Spurs.
Kleber is joined by Jaden Hardy, Josh Green, Reggie Bullock and Dwight Powell in the starting lineup with the Mavericks missing Luka Doncic (thigh), Kyrie Irving (foot) and Tim Hardaway (calf) on Wednesday. Although we haven't seen what a starting workload looks like for Kleber, he can be expected to handle 25-30 minutes.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Will play Saturday
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Head coach Jason Kidd said Friday that Kleber (hamstring) is good to go for Saturday's matchup against the Grizzlies, Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Kleber took the second night of Dallas' recent back-to-back set off for injury maintenance, but the German big man will be back in action Saturday. Since returning from a lengthy injury absence, Kleber has appeared in three of the Mavericks' past five contests, averaging 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23.3 minutes.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Won't play Wednesday
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Kleber won't play Wednesday in New Orleans due to right hamstring injury recovery.
Kleber saw 26 minutes during the first half of Dallas' back-to-back set Tuesday, but he'll take the night off Wednesday to rest his hamstring. Since returning from a lengthy absence, Kleber has appeared in three of four games and averaged 7.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 23.3 minutes during that stretch. Reggie Bullock (quad) is unlikely to play Wednesday, so Christian Wood, Justin Holiday, Markieff Morris and Davis Bertans are all candidates for increased roles versus the Pelicans. Kleber's next chance to suit up will come Saturday in Memphis.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Set to play Tuesday
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Kleber (hamstring) is available for Tuesday's game versus the Jazz.
Kleber has been upgraded from questionable to available Tuesday after missing the previous game with a right hamstring injury. The 30-year-old forward is averaging 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists in two appearances since returning from a lengthy absence.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Listed as questionable
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Kleber (hamstring) is questionable Tuesday against the Jazz.
Kleber is in jeopardy of missing a second straight game. Christian Wood took advantage of Kleber's absence Sunday, scoring 17 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Won't play Sunday
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Kleber (hamstring) has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Suns.
Kleber was listed as probable Saturday, but he was trending in the wrong direction after being tabbed questionable only a few hours before Sunday's tip-off. More minutes should be available for Reggie Bullock, Davis Bertans or even Markieff Morris as a result of Kleber's absence. His next chance to play will come Tuesday against the Jazz.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Downgraded to questionable
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Kleber has been downgraded to questionable for Sunday's game against the Suns.
Kleber was initially tabbed as probable, but the downgrade means he's now trending in the wrong direction. He's played 20 or more minutes in his two outings since returning from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss 35 games between Dec. 14 and Feb. 26, and if he can't go Sunday, then more minutes would be available for Reggie Bullock, Davis Bertans or even Markieff Morris.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Tabbed probable
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Kleber (hamstring) is likely to play in Sunday's game against Phoenix.
Kleber has played in the Mavericks' last two games after being sidelined since mid-December with a torn right hamstring. He logged 24 and 20 minutes in the two matches, and Coach Jason Kidd said Thursday that Kleber's minutes restrictions will continue for "a while." In those two appearances, Kleber averaged 9.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Minutes restriction to continue
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Head coach Jason Kidd relayed Thursday that Kleber will have restricted minutes "for a while," Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Kleber played 24 minutes off the bench in his return to action Tuesday, so his workload isn't too short of the 25.6 per game he's averaging on the year. Even when he's back in a full capacity, Kleber doesn't produce at a rate that enters him into the fantasy conversation in most leagues.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Questionable Tuesday
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Kleber (hamstring) is questionable for Tuesday's game against Indiana.
The Mavericks are optimistic that Kleber will be available for the first time since Dec. 12, but he'll presumably be evaluated in the hours leading up to the 8:30 p.m. Et tipoff before the team makes a final decision regarding his status. Given the length of the 31-year-old's absence while he recovered from right hamstring surgery, he'll likely face a minutes restriction if he's cleared to play Tuesday.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Could return Tuesday
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The Mavericks have optimism that Kleber (hamstring) could be available for Tuesday's game against the Pacers, NBA writer Marc Stein reports.
Kleber hasn't played since Dec. 12 due to a right hamstring tear, but he's been ramping up in recent days and looks to be on the cusp of a return. Whether he's cleared to play Tuesday or later on in the week, Kleber will provide a boost to Dallas' frontcourt, particularly on the defensive end and as a floor stretcher. Prior to suffering his injury, Kleber appeared in 22 games off the bench and averaged 6.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.1 three-pointers, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 assists in 25.6 minutes.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Remains out
Rotowire
Kleber (hamstring) will not suit up for Sunday's game against the Lakers.
Kleber has been sidelined since Dec. 12 after tearing his right hamstring but indicated Wednesday that he is "very close" to returning to the hardwood. His next chance to do so will come Tuesday against Indiana.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Still out, but getting close
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Kleber (hamstring) won't play Thursday against the Spurs, but he said Wednesday that he's getting "very close" to a return, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.
Kleber returned to contact work before the All-Star break, and the hope was that he'd be able to suit up Thursday. However, he'll miss at least one more contest, marking his 34th straight absence due to a right hamstring strain. The versatile big man will presumably have a minutes restriction when he's finally cleared to return, but he should be a critical part of Dallas' frontcourt when he's fully integrated into the rotation.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Will remain out through break
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Kleber (hamstring) will not play Wednesday at Denver.
Kleber has been cleared to return to contact work and appears to be nearing a return, but unsurprisingly the Mavs will give him the All-Star break to continue ramping up. The hope is that Kleber is cleared when Dallas resumes play Thursday, Feb. 23 against San Antonio.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Still out
Rotowire
Kleber (hamstring) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against Minnesota.
Kleber was cleared for contact work in practice earlier this week, but he'll continue to be sidelined for games due to a right hamstring strain that's kept him out of action since Dec. 12. Following Monday's contest, Dallas has only one contest left before the All-Star break, so it would make sense if Dallas held him out for that contest as well to give him an extra week of rehab before thrusting him back into game action.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Out for road trip
Rotowire
Kleber (hamstring) will remain out for the Mavericks' upcoming five-game road trip but was cleared to resume taking contact in practice Thursday, Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Following the Mavericks' road trip, Kleber will have just two chances to play before the All-Star break, with a return before the festivities being his initial goal. He's been sidelined since Dec. 12 due to a right knee sprain and hamstring tear. More information on his recovery should emerge as he continues to ramp up his activity.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Aiming for speedy return
Rotowire
Kleber said Wednesday that he hopes to return from a torn right hamstring prior to the All-Star break, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports.
Kleber has been sidelined since Dec. 12 due to a multitude of injuries to his right leg, including a knee sprain and a hamstring tear, and was expected to miss a significant portion of time. His target of a pre-All-Star return would put him back on the court in mid-February, which would mean Kleber is ahead of schedule in his recovery process. Regardless of when he returns, the 30-year-old will be under heavy restrictions and likely require a lengthy ramp-up period.
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Mavericks' Maxi Kleber: Diagnosed with torn hamstring
Rotowire
Updating a previous report, Kleber has been diagnosed with a torn right hamstring and is currently without a return timetable.
Kleber was also battling a sprained knee, which kept him out of Wednesday's game against the Cavs, but the Mavs have since revealed that he tore his hamstring during practice earlier in the week. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, the knee sprain was set to keep Kleber sidelined for 6-to-8 weeks. While Dallas has not provided an updated return timetable in light of the hamstring tear, the general expectation is that Kleber could end up missing several months.
