Nowitzki returns from Achilles injury vs. Clippers

Good news for a team in dire need of some: The Dallas Mavericks will have Dirk Nowitzki in uniform Wednesday night for the first time since Nov. 4.

The 38-year-old, who's been sidelined with a strained right Achilles, will return from an eight-game absence to face the Los Angeles Clippers, as the Mavs try to snap a six-game losing streak.

Nowitzki initially tried to play through the injury, which he suffered in the Mavs' season opener. He played two games thereafter, and plainly wasn't himself. He's averaging 12 points and 6.7 rebounds while shooting 35.9 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range on the season.

Dallas comes into Wednesday's game with a league-worst 2-11 record, though, as coach Rick Carlisle has pointed out, things could be worse.