Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki tore a tendon in his left middle finger in Tuesday's NBA Finals opener but is not expected to miss any action.
Nowitzki suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Dallas' 92-84 loss at Miami while attempting to make a defensive play against Heat forward Chris Bosh.
"Bosh got a bounce pass and stepped in," Nowitzki said. "I thought I stripped him clean. Then I kind of looked down and I couldn't straighten my finger out anymore. I have to wear a splint probably the rest of the playoffs."
After the injury, Nowitzki made two free throws, a jumper and two more free throws before missing a short shot. He finished with 27 points, shooting 7-of-18 from the field and 12-of-12 from the line.
"It won't affect him," Heat superstar LeBron James said. "He's still going to be great. He's still going to be Dirk."
Nowitzki practiced with a splint on his finger Tuesday, but hopes to be able to play without it in Game 2.
"I have this splint on for now," Nowitzki told reporters. "I think we're going to play around with some other stuff. Try tape, or try a splint from the back so I can feel the ball and not lose grip of the ball.”
Nowitzki suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Dallas' 92-84 loss at Miami while attempting to make a defensive play against Heat forward Chris Bosh.
"Bosh got a bounce pass and stepped in," Nowitzki said. "I thought I stripped him clean. Then I kind of looked down and I couldn't straighten my finger out anymore. I have to wear a splint probably the rest of the playoffs."
After the injury, Nowitzki made two free throws, a jumper and two more free throws before missing a short shot. He finished with 27 points, shooting 7-of-18 from the field and 12-of-12 from the line.
"It won't affect him," Heat superstar LeBron James said. "He's still going to be great. He's still going to be Dirk."
Nowitzki practiced with a splint on his finger Tuesday, but hopes to be able to play without it in Game 2.
"I have this splint on for now," Nowitzki told reporters. "I think we're going to play around with some other stuff. Try tape, or try a splint from the back so I can feel the ball and not lose grip of the ball.”
