DALLAS (AP) -Mavericks All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki did not start Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves because he was late for the team’s shootaround before the game.
Nowitzki entered the game with 6:48 left in the first quarter. The last time the nine-time All-Star played in a reserve role was against the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 14, 1999, his second year in the NBA.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle did not mention that Nowitzki was pulled from the starting lineup when he met with the media ahead of the game. An announcement was made about 30 minutes before the tip.
Josh Howard started in Nowitzki’s place.
Nowitzki, who made the first shot he took with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter, came in averaging a team-leading 25.1 points per game. He spoke to the American Airlines Center crowd just before the game to promote next weekend’s All-Star festivities in Dallas, but he did not acknowledge the disciplinary action.
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