Dallas ? Dirk Nowitzki was helped to the locker room, putting no weight on his left leg, after a nasty spill in the third quarter of Dallas’ game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday.

Minutes later, he was limping badly on his way to the X-ray room.

The team did not immediately have a status report, calling it only a “leg and ankle injury.”

Nowitzki, the reigning NBA most valuable player, landed awkwardly after running and blocking a shot by San Antonio’s Ime Udoka. His left ankle seemed to twist first, then the knee, as he flopped backward.

Nowitzki started reaching for his ankle, then grabbed near his calf, slapping the floor in agony. He put a hand on his head, then didn’t move while the team’s orthopedist and athletic trainer worked on his lower leg. The arena was silent until Nowitzki sat up.