NBA – Germany’s Nowitzki injured in fall as Mavs lose at San Antonio (+ video)

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) - The Dallas Mavericks are sweating over the fitness of Dirk Nowitzki after the Germany superstar had a nasty fall in Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Nowitzki, last season’s NB A MVP and the driving force in his country’s national team that will attempt to qualify for the Beijing Games in July at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, fell awkwardly in the third quarter while attempting to swat a shot and hurt the lower part of his left leg.

Dallas said after the game that Nowitzki had suffered a “lower left leg injury” and that more details would be released on Monday.

The Mavs lost the game to their Texas rivals, 88-81.

Argentina international Manu Ginobili had 26 points and eight rebounds to lead the Spurs, last year’s NBA champions.

Ginobili will play at the Olympics later this summer when the Argentinians defend the title they won in Athens in 2004.

One of Team USA’s captains, Carmelo Anthony, poured in 33 points to fire the Denver Nuggets past the struggling Toronto Raptors 109-100.

Canada’s lone NBA team, the Atlantic Division winners just one year ago, have now dropped seven of their last eight games.

The man who will lead Spain at the Olympics, point guard Jose Calderon scored 17 points for the Raptors while Andrea Bargnani had 16.

Calderon ‘s countryman Pau Gasol missed another game with a sprained ankle and the Los Angeles Lakers lost without him, 115-111 to the Golden State Warriors.

Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis each had 31 points for the Warriors.

Latvia international Andris Biedrins, who underwent an appendectomy earlier this year, had six points and five rebounds.

Kobe Bryant of Team USA had a game-high 36 points and France center Ronny Turiaf 16 in defeat for the Lakers.

The Washington Wizards were the other winners on Sunday, beating the visiting Detroit Pistons 95-83.

Among the winners on Saturday were Phoenix, who beat Houston 122-113 behind an amazing performance from Amare Stoudemire.

The Team USA big man had 38 points while recently-acquired center Shaquille O’Neal weighed in with 23 for the Suns.

The Utah Jazz, whose 19-game winning streak at home had been ended on Thursday by the Lakers, hit back to hand the Seattle Sonics their 11th straight defeat.

Mehmet Okur of Turkey had 24 points for the Jazz in a 115-101 win.

The New Orleans Hornets won a battle of heavyweights, beating the Boston Celtics 113-106.

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