Lower back soreness will lead Kristaps Porzingis to miss his fourth straight game.

Lower back soreness will lead Kristaps Porzingis to miss his fourth straight game.

The Mavericks stated on Tuesday afternoon that Porzingis, Maxi Kleber, a forward with a back injury, and Trey Burke, a backup guard, will not be participating in Tuesday night’s home game against the Heat due to health and safety protocols.

Kristaps Porzingis will miss his fourth straight game due to lower back pain.

The Mavericks announced on Tuesday afternoon that, under health and safety standards, Porzingis, backup guard Trey Burke, and forward Maxi Kleber—who is suffering from a back injury—will not play in Tuesday night’s home game against the Heat.

Coach Jason Kidd did not provide much information on Porzingis’ chances of playing on Tuesday, the opening night of a back-to-back. Porzingis practiced on Monday.

He completed the walkthrough. He did get some practice. Kidd commented, “He looked good.” “We will see how he feels tomorrow; he was in there shooting.”

The Mavericks’ frontcourt will be depleted as a result of the team ruling out Maxi Kleber due to a back strain. Kleber sustained the injury in the first quarter of the team’s victory over the Kings on Sunday and missed practice on Monday.

For the Mavericks’ surviving big men, this may be good news: Heat center Bam Adebayo, an All-Star, is doubtful to play due to a left knee bruise.

Burke will be absent for the second time in four games due to a health and safety procedure. Burke, the lone Maverick who has not had the COVID-19 vaccination, disregarded the NBA’s more stringent daily regimen for unvaccinated players on Thursday.

Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr., Burke, and Sterling Brown engaged in individual shooting drills during the portion of Monday’s practice that was accessible to reporters.

He shot multiple sets of free throws, faked post-ups, and dribbled between five different 3-point positions on the arc. In the weight room, he completed his training by squatting at a rack in front of assistant trainer Manu Valdi.

This was the longest comprehensive workout Porzingis had done in front of the media since he departed last Tuesday’s game against the Rockets due to soreness in his lower back.