Nowitzki injures leg in Mavericks’ defeat

DALLAS -- Reigning NBA most valuable player Dirk Nowitzki was injured on an ugly looking fall in the third quarter of the Dallas Mavericks’ 88-81 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday, but left the arena without knowing how bad it is. The team termed it a “lower left leg injury” and said more details would come today.

“I fell awkwardly and my left leg got caught underneath of me,” Nowitzki said in a statement. “I am going to get re-evaluated in the morning and I hope to have more information then.”

Nowitzki went down after running and jumping to block a shot late in the third quarter. With Nowitzki writhing on the court, Tim Duncan grabbed the loose ball and scored, putting San Antonio ahead for the first time in the second half. It came during a 19-0 run that took the Spurs from 12 points down to in control the rest of the way.

Dallas hasn’t beaten a winning team since acquiring Jason Kidd. The Mavericks are 0-8, including their last three, all at home. They were 29-4 at home -- without losing as many as two in a row -- before falling to the Lakers, Celtics and now the Spurs.

“We have to keep our composure,” said Kidd, who had seven points, seven rebounds, five assists and three turnovers. “We put ourselves in position to win, but we didn’t finish it off. The margin of error is real small. We were right there but couldn’t hit a shot.”

With 12 games left, the Mavericks are 44-26 and seventh in the Western Conference -- half a game ahead of Golden State.

Manu Ginobili led San Antonio with 26 points. He also was 11 for 11 from the free-throw line. Dallas took 11 free throws all game.