Dallas' Nowitzki likely to sit Game 5 tonight

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki has trouble describing exactly how his sprained left knee feels. He just knows it doesn't feel the way it should.

So, even though the Dallas Mavericks' leading scorer and rebounder says it will be a game-time decision whether he plays tonight against San Antonio, he added it would take a drastic improvement for him to play in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

"I don't really have pain. It doesn't really hurt. But I can feel that something is not right with my knee," Nowitzki said yesterday. "If I have that again tomorrow, I'm not going to play.

"To me, it's got to feel right. If I have any doubts that I can't push off, or have thoughts that I can't get out of my head, then I'm not going to play."

Mavericks coach Don Nelson was hoping Nowitzki would at least be able to play three-on-three. He couldn't, partly because he pushed himself too hard Sunday.

Nowitzki worked out before Sunday's Game 4 in hopes of making it into the lineup just two days after being injured. But he wasn't able to run or jump, so he watched San Antonio's 102-95 victory from a seat near the Dallas bench.

Early in the game, the Mavericks didn't seem to miss the 25.3 points and 11.5 rebounds Nowitzki has averaged this postseason. For the first 2-1/2 quarters, Dallas' small lineup built a nine-point lead. Then San Antonio rallied and led the entire fourth quarter.

When Dallas began to rally in the final quarter, Nowitzki stood and cheered until he felt the knee "getting weak and starting to shake." He wasn't much stronger yesterday, even asking to sit while being interviewed.

"It was smart not to play," Nowitzki said. "Who knows what would've happened? The risk is extremely high. When a knee is fatigued, the whole body tries to strengthen around it. You start to run differently and the next thing you know you tear something else in your body or pull a muscle.

"I'm only 24 years old. I've got a lot of basketball left. If I was 33, 34, 35, I probably would've played. But this is just the beginning of my career."

San Antonio leads the series 3-1. A victory in Game 5 would put the Spurs into the NBA Finals against New Jersey.

Game 6, if necessary, would be Thursday in Dallas. Nowitzki said his availability would still be a game-time decision.

"I think the longer the series goes, the more chance Dirk has to play," Nelson said.

Nowitzki was injured late in Game 3 on Friday night. An MRI exam Saturday showed the kind of damage that would typically keep someone out 10-14 days.

"I don't think we could've done more than we really did," Nowitzki said. "It just takes time to heal. But we don't have time." 

Best-of-seven Western Conference finals; Spurs lead series 3-1
Date	Result
May 19	Mavericks 113, at Spurs 110
May 21	At Spurs 119, Mavericks 106
May 23	Spurs 96, at Mavericks 83
May 25	Spurs 102, at Mavericks 95
Date	Site	Time
Today	San Antonio	6 p.m.
Thursday*	Dallas	6 p.m.
Saturday*	San Antonio	5:30 p.m.
*If necessary. All games televised on TNT.