Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki will sit out the next four games to engage in a week of behind-the-scenes conditioning work to strengthen his sore right knee.

Carlisle said Nowitzki needs “an uninterrupted eight days of work to resolve some physical issues and conditioning issues.” He emphasized that the break is designed to help Nowitzki, who is expected to return Jan. 29 against San Antonio, get into better game shape.

The Mavs coach said Nowitzki would prefer to keep playing but coaches and training staff decided it would be better for the team if he is restricted from game activity for the next week. Carlisle stressed that “this is not a rest situation” but “quite the opposite.”

“I wasn’t thrilled at the beginning,” Nowitzki said. “We talked about it yesterday in the meeting and I just thought it was a good decision for everybody. I think I’m not helping right now anyway and the guys are better off if I’m not out there, so it just gives me time to really do some of the stuff that I couldn’t be doing. My knee was bothering me the last couple of weeks. I couldn’t lift or run and do the stuff I needed to do because my knee was swollen most of the time. So this week my knee feels better and this actually gives me some time to lift and really get back where I should be, and I look forward to coming back.”