Spurs Vs. Mavericks: San Antonio Cruises To 101-89 Win

As such, Friday night’s match between the teams could weigh heavy on the race for home court. The Mavericks have a much easier schedule than the Spurs looking ahead, and a big win over the rival could kick start a nice return run for the gates. The problem, of course, is that Dallas is stuck in triage waiting for Nowitzki to come back.

This isn’t like Dirk, to miss all these games. That’s why the knee injury that has him in natty suits has cast such a pall over the team: Nowitzki has never missed this many games in a season. For the absence to come on a sprain, a malady Dirk’s famous flexibility has always batted aside in hours (not weeks) -- it’s completely unfortunate and, to a degree, maddening. The Mavericks had assembled a real contender for the first time since 2007. And this, an unlikely injury to an uninjurable player, happens?