Nowitzki still sidelined

DALLAS (AP) - Dallas scoring leader Dirk Nowitzki missed the
Mavericks' game Thursday night against Oklahoma City Thunder
because of a sprained right knee.

Nowitzki is day-to-day and there had been speculation that he
might try to play against the Thunder. Nowitzki has been shooting
at practices, but sat out his sixth consecutive game.

Nowitzki is averaging 24.1 points.

On Tuesday, the Mavericks learned that No. 3 scorer Caron Butler
will probably miss the rest of the season because of a torn tendon
in his right knee.


(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)