Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki to make first start of season

After coming off the bench in his first six games, Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki will make his first start of the season on Saturday. (D. Clarke Evans/NBA/Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said Saturday that forward Dirk Nowitzki will make his first start of the season against the New Orleans Hornets, reports ESPN.com.

Nowitzki, an 11-time All-Star, missed the first 27 games of the season after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the preseason. In his first six appearances of the season, Nowitzki came off the bench. Dallas is 13-20, fourth in the Southwest Division.

"I felt like the best I've felt out there," Nowitzki said Friday. "I don't think the wind is a big deal or wasn't the last couple of games. It's more the legs and the explosiveness and the push-off and switching directions. So that was the major problem I thought the last ten days I've been back, or whatever. That was the best I've felt, in Miami. So I've got to keep on working, hopefully get 100 percent here sometime soon."