Nowitzki to miss Mavericks’ opener as left ankle rehab continues

Dallas-Mavericks-centre-Dirk-Nowitzki-celebrates-sinking-a-3-point-basket-during-the-first-half-of-the-team's-NBA-basketball-game-against-the-Denver-Nuggets-in-Dallas,-Tuesday,-March-6,-2018.-(Tony-Gutierrez/AP)

Dallas Mavericks centre Dirk Nowitzki celebrates after sinking a 3-point basket. (Tony Gutierrez/AP)

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki’s debut in his record 21st season with the Dallas Mavericks won’t be in the opener.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Friday the 40-year-old Nowitzki will miss "multiple weeks" with a longer-than-expected recovery from left ankle surgery in April. The Mavericks open the season Wednesday in Phoenix.

Nowitzki said he had a setback when he started playing again about a week before training camp. He hasn’t practiced in the preseason. The surgery just before the end of last season was to remove bone spurs.

Carlisle said the 13-time All-Star was doing better but hasn’t done any significant work on the court.

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