Maxi Kleber injured, Mavericks frontcourt depth strained

The Dallas Mavericks’ frontcourt rotation has taken another significant hit. On Saturday, forward Maxi Kleber was ruled out for an extended period after suffering a broken right foot during the Mavericks’ loss to the Boston Celtics.

The injury occurred during the second half of the game, with Kleber limping off the court and not returning. Following the game, the Mavericks confirmed the severity of the injury, marking yet another challenge for their depleted roster.

Kleber’s absence comes when the Mavericks were already dealing with depth issues in the frontcourt. Dereck Lively II, who had shown promise as a key contributor in the paint, was recently sidelined for several weeks with a stress fracture in his right ankle.

With Lively out, Kleber was expected to see increased minutes, stepping into a more prominent role to help stabilize the Mavericks’ interior presence.

Kleber has appeared in 33 games this season, providing steady contributions off the bench.

While his offensive numbers – 3.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 19 minutes – don’t jump off the page, his defensive versatility and ability to stretch the floor have been valuable assets for the team.

With both Kleber and Lively out, the Mavericks will need to lean heavily on other frontcourt options, including Dwight Powell and Richaun Holmes.

This injury also increases the pressure on the Mavericks’ perimeter players, like Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, to shoulder an even larger offensive load as the team adjusts to these roster changes.

For Dallas, this latest injury further complicates their efforts to remain competitive in a tightly contested Western Conference.