Hinintay muna ni Los Angeles Clippers coach Glenn Anton ‘Doc’ Ri­vers na abot-kamay na ng kanyang team ang panalo nitong Lunes bago sinaluduhan si Dallas Mavericks veteran Dirk Nowitzki.

May 9 seconds na lang bago nakompleto ang 121-112 victory ng Clippers sa Staples Center, kinuha ni Rivers ang mic ng public address announcer para batiin si Nowitzki na binigyan din ng standing ovation.

“I just felt he deserved that,” wika ni Rivers.

Umiskor si Nowitzki ng 12 points sa 3 of 10 shooting sa kanyang 1,500th career game.

“I got the game ball,” anang German sniper. “Coming in 20 years ago, my first year struggling like that, I never thought I’m getting to 1,500 NBA games. It’s been a great rollercoaster career with a lot of ups and downs.”

Inihayag na ng 14-time All-Star na magreretiro na siya, dedesis­yunan pagkatapos ng season. Ginugol ni Nowitzki, 40, ang lahat ng 20 seasons niya sa Dallas.

Umiskor si Montrezl Harrell ng career-high 32 points, nagdagdag si Lou Williams ng 21 sa Clippers.