Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki will miss at least a week because of lingering soreness in the 38-year-olds right Achilles tendon.Hes going to be out for a while, coach Rick Carlisle said during his news conference Friday night after the Mavs fell to 0-5 for the first time in franchise history with a 105-95 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. Well update you guys in about seven days. Hes not going to play at least until then.Nowitzki, the sixth-leading scorer in NBA history, did not play in the second half of Fridays loss because of the soreness, which has been an issue since late in the preseason. He had five points on 2-of-6 shooting in 16 minutes during the first half.It gets better on days off, and as soon as I go out there and try to push off, try to show on pick-and-rolls, run backwards, all that stuff is just uncomfortable and sore, Nowitzki told reporters. So just thought Id just shut it down. I mean, it makes no sense to keep dragging this for weeks, you know? Obviously, it hasnt really gotten better, so were going to take a few days off and not get on the court, not do all the stuff that makes it sore. And hopefully, Ill be better in a couple days and we can ramp it back up.But for now, thats where were at. It just hasnt gotten to the point where I can move well, where I can move pain-free, so it just doesnt make any sense to be out there.Nowitzki, a 13-time All-Star who remains the Mavs franchise player in his 19th NBA season, has led Dallas to the playoffs in 15 of the past 16 seasons. The lone exception was the 2012-13 season, when Nowitzki missed the first two months after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.Its bad news, but well get through it, Carlisle said in his news conference. Weve gone some periods like this before, but his health is the most important thing. Hes more than willing to continue playing, but its pretty obvious that things arent right, so weve got to do the right thing here and back him off.Nowitzki missed the Mavs second and third games of the season because of an illness and said upon his return that he hoped the Achilles issue had subsided. However, it flared up again after he played 29 minutes in Wednesdays loss to the Utah Jazz.It felt better after a couple days of not doing anything, but as soon as I got back out there with the cutting, with the showing, with the quick changing of direction, it went right back to the same old [pain], Nowitzki said. Im already obviously not moving great at 38 as it is, and to be out there on one leg is really not helping myself. Its not helping the team at all.I dont think its anything major. Its just that the Achilles is inflamed. Weve been trying a bunch of stuff. Ive been getting treatment for hours every day. My guy from Germany is even here. Hes been treating me every day for over two hours and Ive been on the meds, and nothing really has made it better to the point where I can move out there without it bothering me. P.K Subban Jersey Large . Bradwell was scheduled to become a free agent Tuesday. Born and raised in Toronto, Bradwell is entering his sixth CFL season, with all six played for his hometown Argonauts. Wholesale Custom Predators Shirts . -- Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings was selected Monday to his second straight Pro Bowl, while guard Kyle Long made it after a solid rookie season. http://www.custompredatorsjersey.com/ . - Blake Griffin had 30 points and 12 rebounds, J. Custom Predators Jerseys .J. -- New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his left knee. Cheap Custom Predators Jersey . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. OAKLAND, Calif. -- There should be few secrets when Houston Astros right-hander Doug Fister is on the mound Wednesday afternoon, pitching against the Oakland As in the finale of a three-game series at the Oakland Coliseum.Fister (9-6, 3.64 ERA) will start against Oakland for the fourth time this season, all in a span of 80 days.I dont think it really changes anything, said Fister, who will try to prevent the As from sweeping the three-game series. This games really a game of chess anyway, but no matter what you do prior, it all comes down to execution. I can throw the same pitch three different times, and three different times I get three different results.Im still going to attack with the same game plan, and obviously theres minute changes that happen, but for the most part, everythings going to stay the same. Im just going to attack and let the defense work.Based on Fisters numbers this year against the As, there is no reason for him to make drastic alterations. He is 2-1 with a 1.31 ERA vs. Oakland He allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings in a 2-1 victory on May 1 at the Coliseum and no runs over six innings in a 12-2 win on June 3 in Houston. In his third start against the As, Fister gave up two runs over eight innings in a 3-1 loss on July 7 at Houston.The latter game was Fisters third consecutive defeat, but he snapped his skid Friday at Seattle, allowing three runs over five innings in a 9-6 victory.Ive fellt pretty good for a while now, Fister said.dddddddddddd Ive had a couple hiccups, but at the same time, those guys are pretty good. Ive got to come back and execute every fifth day, and thats the road were trying to get back on.As rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-4, 5.54 ERA) will make his eighth career start and try to get back on track after three straight rough starts. Mengden gave up a combined eight earned runs over his first four starts but allowed 16 earned runs in his past three.Mengden yielded six earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and got a no-decision in a 10-9 loss to the Astros on July 8 at Houston. Then in his first start after the All-Star break, he allowed six earned runs in 3 1/3 innings and got a no-decision in an 8-7 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday at the Coliseum.Last start, my control might have been a little off, Mengden said. I think my arm slot was a little different. Trying to find it a little bit.Mengden acknowledged that he has never experienced such a rough stretch of games in his career.But Im in the big leagues now, and its not as easy as in the minors, Mengden said. Just in a little funk. Im not too worried about it. The past is the past. Im trying to stay looking forward, and Im looking forward to pitching against the Astros again on Wednesday. ' ' '