Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki says he hopes to avoid surgery after experiencing more swelling in his right knee.
Nowitzki missed his second straight preseason game as Dallas beat Houston 123-104 Monday night and has had the right knee drained twice over the past month.
The 2011 NBA Finals MVP told reporters after the game that he didn't have as much swelling after practicing Friday and Saturday. Nowitzki says he is going to reduce his workload this week, sticking to work in the pool and on the elliptical machine in hopes of returning to the court within the next week.
If the swelling does subside by next week, Nowitzki says there may be no other choice besides surgery, which could sideline the perennial All-Star into the start of the regular season.
