Doc Rivers stops Clippers-Mavericks game to honor Dirk Nowitzki

Speaking to what was left of the 19,068 in attendance toward the end of the Los Angeles Clippers-Dallas Mavericks game on Monday night, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers asked the crowd to pay tribute to the Mavericks’ 14-time All Star, Dirk Nowitzki.

Rivers grabbed the PA announcer’s microphone at the Staples Center and called out Nowitzki’s name followed by several repetitions of “let’s go!” until the crowd burst into a standing ovation for the 40-year-old Nowitzki.

The moment came with nine seconds left in the game and the game in hand for the Clippers. Rivers called a timeout — not for basketball reasons — to specifically honor Nowitzki, who is expected to retire but hasn’t made a formal announcement yet.

It was Nowitzki’s last game of the season against the Clippers and the 1,500th game of the 21-year veteran’s career.

He was selected along with Dwyane Wade, who has announced his retirement at the end of this season, as an honorary All-Star by commissioner Adam Silver earlier in the month.

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