The Dallas Mavericks are getting a tough blow as they advance in the NBA Playoffs. Dallas forward/center Maxi Kleber is down with a shoulder injury, per The Athletic. Kleber is expected to miss a significant period of time for the team, and possibly the rest of the postseason.

Kleber suffered a dislocation of the AC joint in his right shoulder, per The Athletic. The AC joint is the area of the shoulder where the collarbone meets part of the shoulder blade. Kleber suffered the injury during the team's Game 6 battle against the Los Angeles Clippers. The team announced on Sunday, May 5 that he would be re-evaluated in three weeks.

Mavs to re-evaluate Maxi Kleber in three weeks

Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber (42) celebrates after making a three point shot against the LA Clippers during the first quarter during game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The loss of Kleber puts additional pressure on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to score. The Mavericks got past the Clippers in the Western Conference playoffs on Friday, but it came at a price. Mavericks guard Doncic admitted that the series exhausted him, and he struggled to score from the perimeter against the Clippers. Dallas can't afford to have him continue his cold shooting if they want to advance to the NBA Finals.

With Doncic struggling from beyond the arc, the Mavericks were able to rely on Kleber for some outside shooting. The big man made more than 50 percent of his threes in the Clippers series. On the season, Kleber is averaging 4 points and 3 rebounds, but his hustle plays kept Dallas going in critical situations. He has played for the club since the 2017-18 season.

“Amazing, man,” Doncic said of Kleber's play in Game 5 of the series, per Sports Illustrated. “I think we created a lot of open shots. And Maxi knocking down three in a row, that helped. The whole team, the energy, the bench was into the game. He was very big today. Big shots.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd says the team will use a next man up mentality to replace Kleber, per ClutchPoints. The Mavericks are expected to use P.J. Washington, Derrick Jones and Josh Green to share minutes in the frontcourt moving forward, per CBS Sports. Dallas takes on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Mavericks' bigs will have their hands full in the next series, taking on young gun Chet Holmgren.

Dallas does have some good rhythm going into the next series. Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is shooting the lights out in the postseason, pouring in another 30 points in Game 6 against the Clippers. His hot hand will be needed moving forward, and so will his good luck. Irving is a perfect 13-0 in his playoff career in closeout games.

The Mavericks and Thunder play in Game 1 of their series on Tuesday. The Thunder swept the New Orleans Pelicans in their first-round playoff series.