(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-24 11:39

DALLAS - The San Antonio Spurs took advantage of an injury to Dallas's Dirk Nowitzki to beat the Mavericks 88-81 on Sunday in a key Western Conference game for both teams.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki lies on the floor holding his knee after sustaining an injury in the second half of their NBA basketball game in Dallas, Texas March 23, 2008. Nowitzki left the game and did not return. [Agencies]

The NBA champion Spurs were on the first part of a 19-0 third-quarter run when Nowitzki departed with a leg injury with 3:18 to play in the period.

"When a player like Dirk goes down, it is a big motivation for us because they have one less go-to guy," the Spurs' Manu Ginobili told reporters after scoring a game-high 26 points.

Nowitzki, last season's NBA MVP, fell awkwardly while trying to block a shot.

"My left leg got caught underneath me," he said in a statement after being helped off the court. "I am going to get re-evaluated in the morning (Monday) and I hope to have more information then."

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban indicated to Dallas reporters Nowitzki could be out for up to two weeks.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS

The win, the Spurs' third in a row, moved them into sixth place in the tight Western Conference race. They share the same record as the fifth-placed Houston Rockets and were only 1.5 games behind the conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers before the Lakers' late game on Sunday.

Dallas, in losing its third in a row, fell to seventh in the conference.

"This was a huge win," Ginobili said. "We got some great opportunities (earlier) that we let go, like Philadelphia on the road and Boston at home. It was huge that we got one of those two back.

"But it is still a long way to go," the Argentine said. We have 13 games to go and we have really got to improve."

Nowitzki's injury came after he attempted to block a layup by Ime Udoka. Tim Duncan followed with a layup to give the Spurs a 55-54 lead.

San Antonio trailed 54-42 with 6:11 to go in the third quarter, but went on its 19-0 run to take a 61-54 lead on Ginobili's three-pointer.

Duncan finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds and Tony Parker added 13 points.

Nowitzki had 11 points and seven rebounds when he was injured.

Jerry Stackhouse led the Mavericks with 19 points. He was ejected with 13 seconds to play after picking up his second technical foul.

The first came in the third quarter when he and Ginobili scrambled for a rebound.

"Every time we play them it is rough," Ginobili said. "We are fighting for a good spot in the playoffs so that is why it gets rough."

Dallas now most likely will need to hold off Golden State and Denver for one of the two remaining Western playoff spots.

Twelve games remain on their regular-season schedule.

"It's been rough with him," Mavericks reserve Devean George told reporters. "Now, we really have to come together."