<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Erick Dampier has taken the next step, literally. The 6-11 center has worked out on an elliptical stair-stepping machine the last two days and said Thursday the next step will be to start running on a treadmill. Dampier has missed 10 games with a stress fracture in his right foot. He has gone from walking in a swimming pool to dry land, which is progress. The key to Dampier and other injured Mavericks is to be healthy by April for the playoffs. "I won't be out that long," Dampier said. He added that he hopes to start putting in some time on the practice court late next week. Going into Thursday's game, the Mavericks were 5-4 since Dampier went out. On the mend: Joy Nelson could be released from the hospital today, husband Don Nelson said Thursday evening. The coach's wife has been recovering from surgery Wednesday. Nelson missed Thursday's game and expects to rejoin the team after the trip to Milwaukee and Minnesota. </div> Source
