Dirk

Nowitzki

He was able to play without the teeth throughout the first half and had them reinserted at halftime and shouldn’t miss anytime because of it. Coach Don Nelson said: “He reminds me of my grandmother when she was 96 and had lost all her front teeth.” We’re sure Dirk enjoyed hearing that comment.

Nowitzki’s first assisting Mavericks owner Mark Cuban in his search for a new head of basketball operations and then coach, according to New York Times reporter Marc Stein, who broke the news. “Mark approached me and asked me to help out and of course I said yes,” said Nowitzki. “Any way I can help my Mavs, I’m in.”

Nowitzki left Sunday’s game with a mild left ankle sprain.

It wasn’t said whether he’d play tonight.

Dirk practiced Friday after sitting out Thursday. “It’s not going to be 100 percent for a while,” Nowitzki said. “I’ve got bone bruises in my ankle, and they’re not going to get better for another couple weeks.” That’s the drill with Dirk -- take the awesome production with the risk of his ankles falling off at any moment.

Ankle issues are always something to watch closely with Dirk, but right now he looks safe to leave active.

Dan Dickau got the scare of a lifetime as he was the one who closed the door on Dirk’s shooting hand, prompting him to say “‘Dude, open the door. My fingers are in there.” Dickau was just activated on Thursday and is very lucky Nowitzki’s fingers are ok. It could have resulted in the shortest stay on an active roster in history.

Nowitzki will have an MRI today that will determine the extent of his injury. Ankle problems are always a worry with him, and never a good sign. Alan Henderson should start in Dirk’s place.

What a huge break that would be for the Mavs and Dirk’s fantasy owners. An MRI revealed only a minor sprain of his ankle. He’s ruled himself out for tonight’s game, and if he can’t go Friday, thinks he should definitely suit up Saturday.

Though he will likely suit up tonight against Houston, Nowitzki sided with caution and said his status is a “game-time decision.”