Nowitzki out Wednesday night for Mavericks

DALLAS (AP) Mavericks leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki is missing Dallas' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night because of fluid on the knee.

DALLAS (AP) Mavericks leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki is missing Dallas' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night because of fluid on the knee.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Nowitzki would get treatment on the knee and he wasn't sure whether the 17-year veteran would miss more time. Chandler Parsons was scheduled to start at power forward in Nowitzki's place.

''The challenge is rebounding,'' Carlisle said of Nowitzki's absence. ''It really puts a big onus on your entire team to go get rebounds. Minnesota is a good rebounding team. Playing small has its advantages and it has other disadvantages.''

Nowitzki is averaging 18 points and seven rebounds per game. He has missed three other games this season, but all were instances in which the Mavericks scheduled rest for him.