Dirk Nowitzki Exits vs. Bucks with Achilles Injury

Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki left Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a sore Achilles and will not return, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com.

After the game, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters Nowitzki was dealing with "mild pain," so the team made the call to remove him.

Nowitzki, 38, has struggled to stay healthy during the 2016-17 season. An Achilles injury hampered him early in the campaign, though he's returned to the court and has averaged 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

His injury woes have mirrored the general struggles of the Mavs, however, as the team has limped to a 31-44 record this season. That's been a major disappointment for a team that was the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference playoffs a year ago.

But it has also perhaps signaled the forthcoming end to the Nowitzki era in Dallas. Since Nowitzki was drafted in 1998, the Mavericks have reached the postseason in 15 of the last 18 seasons, and he's been the face of the franchise and its top superstar.

Now, however, the Mavericks don't have the type of team around Nowitzki to support a postseason run. While Harrison Barnes has been excellent and will be a building block for years to come and Nerlens Noel was an important acquisition at the trade deadline, the Mavs are likely in the midst of a rebuilding effort.

With Nowitzki likely sidelined, Dwight Powell, Saleh Majri and Dorian Finney-Smith should all see their roles increase.