Nowitzki out indefinitely with Achilles strain

The Dallas Mavericks are done taking risks with Dirk Nowitzki's health.

After bringing him back early from a right Achilles strain suffered on opening night, the Mavs have shut the 38-year-old down indefinitely, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters Saturday, according to Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Nowitzki has missed 14 games and played just five this season, and hasn't yet played more than two in a row. He's been ineffective and scantly mobile when he's played, averaging 12.2 points on 35.8 percent shooting from the field and 27.3 percent from 3-point range, while the Mavs have been outscored by nearly 27 points per 100 possessions.

Despite being shut down, the future Hall of Famer downplayed the severity of his ailment.

"This is obviously not a career-ending injury," Nowitzki told Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com following Dallas' 107-82 win over the Chicago Bulls. "Just been lingering, unfortunately. Hopefully I'll be back out there soon."

Nowitzki added he's day to day with the "unfortunate" setback.

Carlisle said in late November that he planned to be more cautious with Nowitzki moving forward, with an eye to preserving the 7-foot Mavs lifer for the home stretch of his career.

"We've got to be mindful of the big picture," Carlisle said. "We've got to make sure that Dirk's last year or two or three or whatever it is come down the right way. I want him to be able to play in his last game, whenever that is. You don't want to see a situation where a great warrior like him, who's close to 30,000 points and is possible to get to top five in all-time scoring, can't get through the last few games of his career."