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Nowitzki listed as probable as Mavericks face Kings

Dec 1, 2006 - 2:06 PM Sacramento (8-5) at Dallas (11-4) 8:30 pm EST

DALLAS (Ticker) - Dirk Nowitzki gave the Dallas Mavericks quite a scare in their last game. However, he could be ready to see more action.

After being troubled by blurred vision, Nowitzki is listed as probable as the Mavericks go for their 12th consecutive victory Friday against the Sacramento Kings.

Averaging 24.4 points this season, Nowitzki left Wednesday's game against the Toronto Raptors late in the opening quarter with vision problems caused by a bruised right retina.

The German superstar did not practice Thursday but was given medical clearance to resume basketball activity. He scored just six points against the Raptors.

With Nowitzki sidelined, Josh Howard scored 26 points, Jerry Stackhouse added 23 and Erick Dampier 13 with 14 rebounds for the Mavericks, who shot 54 percent (45-of-84) from the floor in a 117-98 win over Toronto.

Sacramento has won three in a row after a season-high three-game losing streak. However, the Kings are 2-3 on the road this season.

Ron Artest scored 28 points, Mike Bibby added 19 with 10 assists and Brad Miller 12 for the Kings in Tuesday's 93-80 triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Although he was limited to two points on 1-of-8 shooting, Kevin Martin is averaging 23.2 points while attempting just 14.2 shots, and is connecting on nearly 53 percent from the floor (97-of-184).

The Kings lost two of the three meetings against Dallas last season and have dropped their last four encounters here.