Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin expects to guard Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki by himself in the second-round playoff series between Denver and Dallas.

"I'll just go after him," Martin said. "Just make it as tough as possible on every play ? holding, grabbing, pushing, whatever you can do. He's a great player. Like most guys who can score the ball, they like getting the ball where they are comfortable, they like doing the things they want to do. You have to try as much as you can to make them as uncomfortable as possible."

Nowitzki averaged 30 points and 11.3 rebounds per game against the Nuggets during the regular season.

Martin has been a terror defensively as of late. He nearly shut down Hornets All-Star forward David West by himself in the first round.