Dirk Nowitzki says he is still about two weeks away from getting back on the court to start running and shooting. He’s not sure how long after that it will be before he makes his season debut for the Dallas Mavericks.
The perennial All-Star forward is recovering from knee surgery. He says the goal is for the swelling to be gone 100 percent and his strength to be 100 percent before playing. He said Tuesday it’s getting better, but he still feels “far away from” 100 percent.
Nowitzki this week has increased the intensity of off-court workouts to build his strength and conditioning.
He had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Oct. 19, the first surgery for the 7-foot German who is in his 15th NBA season.
Bogut still recovering
Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut is scheduled to miss at least the next three games as he continues to strengthen his surgically repaired left ankle.
The team said Tuesday that Bogut spent several days last week in Los Angeles to get treatment under the supervision of Dr. Richard Ferkel, who performed the surgery on the 7-foot Australian on April 27.
The Warriors, who host the Brooklyn Nets tonight, anticipate Bogut being able to run on a special anti-gravity treadmill later this week and return to practice next Monday.
Bogut has missed the last six games. The 2005 No. 1 overall pick fractured his ankle Jan. 25 with Milwaukee and missed the rest of the season after being traded to Golden State for guard Monta Ellis.
Davis has ankle problem
Top overall draft choice Anthony Davis was scratched from New Orleans’ lineup against New York on Tuesday night because of a flare-up of his left ankle injury that first occurred Friday night.
New Orleans Hornets officials call Davis’ injury a “stress reaction,” which is an area of bone tenderness which, if exacerbated, can develop into a fracture.
Davis is officially listed as day-to-day. Davis has not yet been ruled out of tonight’s game at Indiana and team officials say he will travel with the club.
Davis initially hurt his ankle during the Hornets’ loss to Oklahoma City, but played through it and continued to practice.
In six games so far this season, he’s averaging 15 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and is shooting 49.2 percent from the field.
