Mavericks F Dirk Nowitzki out vs. Timberwolves with knee effusion
Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has swelling in his knee and will not play Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle told reporters following the team's morning shootaround that Nowitzki has right knee effusion. It was unclear when or even how the knee injury occured.
The Mavericks forward, who has averaged a team-high 17.8 points and 6.9 rebounds this season, is coming off a 31-point, 11-rebound effort in Dallas' overtime win against the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
Carlisle says @swish41 is out tonight. Right knee contusion. Felton also out.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 20, 2016
Carlisle says @swish41 has swelling in his right knee. Longterm status unknown.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 20, 2016
The swelling is in the same knee (right) on which @swish41 had arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 19, 2012, causing him to miss first 27 games.
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 20, 2016
Asked if Nowitzki could miss more than the one game, Carlisle said he will have to wait until Thursday to see how Nowitzki's knee responds to treatment.
This is the same knee that Nowitzki had arthroscopic surgery on just prior to the start of the 2012-13 season. Prior to this, Nowitzki has missed only three games this season — all on Carlisle's decision to rest the 37-year-old.
Dallas will be further shorthanded against the Wolves with guard Raymond Felton, the only Mavs player to play in all 43 games, out with swelling around his left eye. Center ZaZa Pachulia, who missed a game last week due to right Achilles soreness, is questionable.
Dallas is playing the second game of a three-game homestand. The Oklahoma City Thunder will close it out Friday.
