Dirk Nowitzki Has a Swollen Right Knee

The Dallas Mavericks say the swollen right knee isn’t a serious injury, but nevertheless, they’re going to be extra cautious with Dirk Nowitzki. Per the Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News: “Last year I dealt with (knee swelling),’ Nowitzki said. ‘We did treatment twice and the swelling didn’t come back. Hopefully it will respond next week and I can play through the year. It’s unfortunate — I would have loved to play — but the preseason is not the time to force a swollen knee.’ […] The problem with his knee started almost as soon as training camp opened on Sept. 29, Nowitzki said. ‘There was some swelling already when we started last week and the last two days, it didn’t really respond too well,’ he said. Nowitzki wanted to play Tuesday in the Mavericks’ 99-85 loss to FC Barcelona Regal at Palau St. Jordi. But the swelling would not dissipate. He said that this year’s problem is in the same ballpark with last year’s. In the shortened, 66-game season last year, he started very slowly and eventually took four games off to get treatments on the knee and when he returned to action, he did not have any further problems the last three months of the season. Clearly, Nowitzki is concerned. ‘Scared is a strong word,’ he said. ‘Obviously, it’s unfortunate. Last year, we dealt with it. Hopefully, it’ll respond here in the next week or so, and I’ll play throughout the whole season. The good thing, or different thing, this year is that my legs are actually pretty strong. I lifted all through the summer. So hopefully this is just temporary.'”