DALLAS _ There were special moments Wednesday night that gave a distinct aura that maybe this season isn't it for Dirk Nowitzki, after all.
There was the 19-footer he swished in just 48 seconds into the game, in his first home start of the season. There was the 27-foot 3-pointer he drained, after a feed from Luka Doncic, that gave Dallas a 19-12 lead over Indiana.
And there were the two, big fourth-quarter 3-pointers he sank during what eventually became a 110-101 Dallas victory at American Airlines Center. The second trey gave Dallas an 88-83 lead with 8:27 left and forced the Pacers into a timeout, as Nowitzki has done countless times during his career.
"I was hoping to feel like this in November-December, when the first month of the season was over," Nowitzki said. "But those seven weeks I missed with the inflamed tendon just really messed up the entire season for me. But you can't cry about it. I'm going to keep working and hopefully feel better and better as the season goes on."
It's nearly March. Only 21 games remain in the season. In his last five games, Nowitzki has scored 12, 3, 15, 12 and 11 points. He's pulled within 69 points of passing Wilt Chamberlain for sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
And, not coincidentally, he has started each of the last three games, his first starts of the season, averaging 12.7 points and four rebounds in those outings. He hasn't had to worry about limbering his 40-year-old body during the first and third quarters while waiting to enter the game.
Could his recent surge cause him to lean toward returning for an NBA-record 22nd season, with the chance to play one more year with Luka Doncic and for a season with Kristaps Porzingis, a player he mentored before the Mavericks traded for him?
"I don't know," he said. "I haven't really thought about it. I would love to be there for the young guys one more year, but I think it depends on how the body feels. I've had issues obviously this year. I had some knee swelling here the last few weeks, actually before the All-Star break, so it's not all great. But like I said I am feeling better. I am feeling stronger.
"I think I'm going to make that decision later on, but I think the future's bright. I think Luka and KP, if they stay healthy, stay together, they should be a great combo. They should play great off each other. Both have an incredible skill set for their size, incredible playmaking ability for their size. They should jell well, but we have to see how it goes next year."
Nowitzki missed all of training camp and the season's first 26 games, but clearly his body finally is responding to the hours of extra work he has put in, often when his teammates have been given the day off.
"I feel like I have a little more pep in my step," he said. "My legs and my wind are a lot better than (earlier in the season). I just feel better overall. I feel like I can actually contribute, whereas earlier I was struggling just to get up and down."
In the last four games, Nowitzki has played 18, 25, 26 and 22 minutes.
"He has worked for it," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. "He has earned these opportunities to start. It's great to see him in a rhythm. He is battling on defense, he is getting his hands on balls around the rim, he is getting a few rebounds, so it's good stuff."
Nowitzki had five rebounds and three assists against the Pacers. Starting clearly would be best for Nowitzki, but earlier this season it wasn't best for the Mavericks. With the playoffs all but out of reach, and with Nowitzki's body and shot-making rounding into form, starting is working well for Nowitzki.
And yet he hasn't complained once this year about not starting, and he isn't about to complain now.
"It's a little easier to find your rhythm," he said.
"Off the bench for me is a new role. It's a little harder. I have a lot of respect for guys doing it their entire career because you might run up and down six, seven trips without touching the ball and you've still got to be able to play well and give the team a lift.
"For me it's obviously easier to start, but whatever the decision may be, down the stretch maybe we'll go back with Maxi (Kleber), whatever the decision is here in the last couple of weeks we're going to try to make it work and play well."
