Nowitzki (knee) sits out Mavs' loss at Barcelona

Dirk Nowitzki was expected to play, but ruled out just before tip-off.

Sergio Carmona/Reuters

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- A swollen right knee kept Dirk Nowitzki out of the Dallas Mavericks' 99-85 loss at FC Barcelona Regal on Tuesday, with Pete Mickeal and Juan Carlos Navarro each scoring 19 points for the 17-time Spanish champions.

After only leading by two points at halftime, Barcelona outscored the Mavericks 32-16 in the third quarter to open up an 18-point gap. Chris Kaman led the Mavericks with 15 points.

Nowitzki was expected to play but was ruled out just before tip-off. The Mavericks beat Alba Berlin 89-84 on Saturday in their first preseason match.

The team now returns home to face Houston on Oct. 15 in Dallas and opens the regular season at the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 30.

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