Mavericks center Dereck Lively II clutches his ankle after a rebound attempt and exits the game in the first quarter.

Like two ships in the night. The Dallas Mavericks get one guy back, and almost just as soon lose another. Mavs center Dereck Lively II suffered a sprained right ankle less than four minutes into Tuesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets and exited the floor with the training staff.

Dallas guard Kyrie Irving has been ruled out of the Mavericks' game Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, who are similarly resting power forward Zion Williamson. Both players were in action a night earlier,

Mavericks star Kyrie Irving is listed as doubtful for Wednesday night's road game against the Pelicans, although his intention had been to play both games of a back-to-back after returning from a five-game absence due to a bulging disc in his lower back.