DALLAS – In injury news Dallas Coach Rick Carlisle characterized as not a setback, longtime franchise player Dirk Nowitzki will miss Sunday’s game vs. New Orleans, due to a right Achilles strain. Nowitzki had played Wednesday and Friday in the Mavs’ two most recent games, after sitting out all eight contests from Nov. 6-21.
While Dallas will miss the constant threat and defensive-drawing ability of Nowitzki whenever the future Hall of Famer is sidelined, the Mavericks managed to win in New Orleans last season sans Nowitzki, as well as a few other key players. That experience may come in handy Sunday, because Dallas (2-13) is again without several major contributors, such as guards J.