Dirk Nowitzki Returns From Injury, But Mavericks Lose Again

The Mavericks were just 2-7 during Nowitzki’s absence; even with Saturday’s loss, the team is 24-6 when Dirk plays. He wasn’t himself against the Grizzlies, scoring seven points on 2-7 shooting. Nowitzki’s night didn’t last too long; he was ejected early in the third quarter for arguing a foul call, and finished with just 14 minutes played. Dallas went on to suffer as it had during Nowitzki’s absence, which is to say the team could not score.

If there’s a silver lining, the Mavericks have to date played the league’s No. 2 most difficult schedule according to Basketball-Reference.com. The Lakers have played the league’s easiest schedule.

Dirk Nowitzki has a strained right knee and will miss the Mavericks’ Tuesday game against the Toronto Raptors, the team has announced. Nowitzki is listed as day-to-day.

Nowitzki fell to the ground early in the second quarter of Dallas’ Monday night win over the Oklahoma City Thunder after being fouled by Serge Ibaka, who was defending a Dirk jump shot. Immediate X-rays showed no structural damage to Nowitzki’s knee, but the forward sat out the remainder of the game as the Mavs pulled away for the 103-93 victory.

Dirk Nowitzki will undergo an MRI Tuesday to assess a knee injury suffered in Monday’s win over the Thunder. Nowitzki has been remarkably reliable over the course of his career, appearing in 97 percent of the Mavericks’ regular season games since 1999. But should the knee injury, which Nowitzki called “scary” and “weird” after Monday’s game, keep the German forward out for any span of time, Dallas’ famous depth will be tested.

The Mavericks made a point to shore up its frontcourt this offseason, re-signing Brendan Haywood to a long-term contract, trading Erick Dampier for the younger and more athletic Tyson Chandler and green French center Alexis Ajinca, and signing two insurance policies in former Spurs prospect Ian Mahinmi and wily veteran Brian Cardinal.