The Dallas Mavericks will get a boost on Monday, as Dirk Nowitzki will return from a right adductor strain against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Though Nowitzki said he expected the injury to be tight, he said he could be out weeks if he waits for the strained muscle to heal itself. Nowitzki added that as long as the muscle doesn't grab, he should be fine.
Nowitzki has missed the last two games with the injury that occurred last Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers. In that game, the Mavs big man scored 26 points and hit clutch shots in a tight game, but Dallas ultimately fell, 106-104. Without Nowitzki, Dallas split its two games. It fell by three points to the Golden State Warriors on the road but recovered in a back-to-back the next night against the Phoenix Suns.
Averaging 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season, Nowitzki has played in just 18 of the Mavericks' 47 games this season. He missed a large chunk of games to begin the season while recovering from a knee injury.