Even after Dirk Nowitzki missed practice Thursday with a bruised right retina, the Mavericks listed him as probable for Friday night's game against Sacramento.

Nowitzki left late in the first quarter of Wednesday night's game against Toronto because of blurred vision. He didn't return, but said after the game, a 117-98 victory, that the problem stemmed from being poked in the eye during the previous game Monday night against Minnesota.

Team specialist Dr. Maurice Syrquin examined Nowitzki on Wednesday night and cleared him for all basketball activity.

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki left Wednesday night's game against the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter with blurred vision.

A team spokesperson said Nowitzki was not poked in the eye and that he would not return to the game.

Nowitzki and a team trainer walked off the floor with 1:46 remaining in the first.

Mavericks assistant general manager Keith Grant got an interesting phone call from the NBA office at halftime of Friday night's game.

It was to inform the Mavs that they needed to limit their players from showing so much exuberance on the sidelines during the game. The league is cracking down on players standing in front of the bench, which of course blocks the views of customers in the not-inexpensive seats near the bench.

"I think it shows the great cohesiveness we have on our team," owner Mark Cuban said. "Our guys are always pulling for each other and I think fans can appreciate that. The league called, and we're fine with that."

Mavericks small forward Josh Howard returned to action Friday against the Spurs.

Howard, 26, suffered a sprained left ankle in the second quarter of Dallas' loss to Golden State on November 6 and missed the next eight games. The 6-7 swingman is averaging 16.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in three games this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James was named today as the NBA?s Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, November 13 through Sunday, November 19.

In four games during the week, James led the Cavaliers to a 3-1 record by averaging 29.5 points on .513 shooting, 6.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists.  He ranked second among Eastern Conference players in total points (118) and third in scoring average.  James has now won the award nine times in his career. (Once this season, five times last season and on three occassions during the 2004-05 campaign.)

He led or tied for the team lead in scoring in each of the four games during the week and scored at least 29 points in each of the Cavaliers? three wins.  He scored 22 of his game-high 32 points in the second half against Portland on Nov. 15 and posted 37 points, nine rebounds and six assists in Cleveland?s win over Minnesota on Nov. 17.  Cleveland?s 7-3 record this season puts them in a tie atop the Eastern Conference standings with the Orlando Magic.

The Dallas Mavericks? Dirk Nowitzki was named the Western Conference Player of the Week.

The muzzling of Mark Cuban by the NBA did not go over unanimously at the recent Board of Governors meeting.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bobcats owner Bob Johnson asked David Stern if such draconian measures - giving the Commish the power to suspend any owner who disparages the league publicly - were in everyone's best interests. And shouldn't this be handled by a committee of owners instead of by Stern alone?

Then, according to two sources, when Johnson further suggested that this was a personal matter between Cuban and Stern that the two of them should settle, Stern went ballistic, telling Johnson that this was a league matter, not an individual one, and that the value of investments such as Johnson's $300 million to get the Charlotte expansion franchise were hurt when Cuban constantly belittled the on-court product.

In the end, Stern got his way. And Cuban may have gotten off lightly. The Inquirer is reporting that some hard-line owners were proposing fines up to $5 million per pop-off - which would dwarf the $1.45 million Cuban's been hit with so far for various verbal indiscretions.

Mavericks guard Jerry Stackhouse missed the game against the Grizzlies on Saturday night because of a strained right groin.

Stackhouse originally was hurt in Tuesday night's victory over the Bulls.

Mark Cuban, once one of the most media friendly NBA personalities, recently turned down a request for an interview from the Toronto Sun.

His reply to the paper is proof of his frustration with the league office.

"I no longer do interviews about the NBA, or anything that helps market the NBA. I leave that to the geniuses at the NBA."

The Mavericks found out Tuesday they will have to pull out of their season-opening tailspin without Josh Howard.

Results of an MRI exam on the swingman revealed a second-degree sprain of his left ankle, and he will be sidelined for at least two weeks.

"We're just going to have to pick up the slack and get the job done," Jason Terry said. "You always miss players when they're out, but we got a very deep team."

The Mavericks lost forward Josh Howard to a sprained left ankle and coach Avery Johnson was ejected in the second quarter of Monday night's game against the Warriors.  

To make matters even worse, starting guard Jason Terry was also ejected with 3:05 left to play for a hard takedown of Golden State's Monta Ellis on a drive to the basket.

Howard was hurt midway through the quarter in a collision with Mickael Pietrus. He took his own free throws, then was helped to the locker room. Soon after, club officials diagnosed the sprain and said he wouldn't return.

X-rays were negative, but an MRI exam is scheduled for today.

"We'll know more after that," coach Avery Johnson said. "But it's not looking too good right now. He was shooting, and a guy was moving up on him. It happened in two or three other games we were watching earlier."