DALLAS, March 28 (AP) -- Dirk Nowitzki hurt his left ankle late in the first half of the Dallas Mavericks' game against Milwaukee on Wednesday night, then played only about a minute after halftime before leaving again.

Nowitzki got hurt with 3:42 left in the first half after he appeared to step on the foot of Milwaukee's David Noel while moving under the Dallas basket. Nowitzki bent over and put his hands on his knees, then left the court and went to the locker room.

He came back out to start the second half, then moved gingerly while playing only 64 seconds. On Milwaukee's first possession to start the half, Nowitzki stumbled under the basket. He told coach Avery Johnson he was OK, but the All-Star forward missed a short jumper at the other end, then came out and went back to the locker room.

His status wasn't immediately clear.

Nowitzki had 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, leaving him one short of 15,000 points for his career.