Nowitzki expected to return tonight

Dallas will close the LA trip on Friday against the Lakers.

Nowitzki has missed his team’s last five games with a badly sprained right ankle he sustained in a November 26 loss to the Phoenix Suns. He suffered the injury as he fell to the floor after being called for a charging foul.

"We noticed a lot of improvement from one day to the next," coach Don Nelson told the Dallas Morning News. "It’s amazing how, with these young athletes, you can see the fatigue one day and the lack of it the next. The feeling is he’ll probably play [Wednesday against the Clippers]. And if he’s able to play, I’ll start him."

The 25-year-old German has averaged 19.2 points-per-game in 15 games this season, to go along with 7.3 rebounds a contest.

Elsewhere on the injury front, Nelson said the availability of Josh Howard will be determined at game time. Howard has been fighting a sprained ankle but has said he expects to be available.