Nowitzki misses shootaround after birth of child, expected to play Tuesday

Good news all around. 

Dirk Nowitzki is the father of a second baby, a boy born Tuesday morning. Also, coach Rick Carlisle says Nowitzki is expected to play Tuesday night when the Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs. 

Nowitzki missed shootaround Tuesday morning as his wife, Jessica, gave birth in a Dallas-area hospital. The baby boy joins their daughter, Malaika.

The Mavs have a big meeting Tuesday night with Texas Triangle-rival San Antonio, one they need a win in to snap out of a recent funk. On Monday, stories swirled about the Dallas organization being fed up with Monta Ellis, while Carlisle avoided pinning it on their leading scorer.

Winning, like births, usually elicits a bright outlook, so the Mavs could start there. Dallas has dropped to seventh in the Western standings, a game behind the Spurs going into Tuesday's game.