Dirk Nowitzki to Return Sooner than Initially Expected

For his 43rd birthday, all Avery Johnson wanted was one more point than the Los Angeles Clippers.

He got a bonus gift in the form of good news about Dirk Nowitzki’s early recovery.

The first 48 hours are supposed to tell a lot about an injury, and the Mavericks said they got all the right results about Nowitzki’s left ankle and knee problems. It’s looking like the original two-week prognosis by owner Mark Cuban might be a worst-case scenario. [Dallas News]