‘It’s Coming Very Soon’: Dusty May Updates Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberović As Dallas Mavericks Face San Antonio Spurs
SAN ANTONIO — Santi Aldama will not make his Dallas Mavericks debut Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Dallas listed the forward as questionable Tuesday, moved him to doubtful Wednesday afternoon, and then ruled him out.
Mavericks coach Dusty May said before the game that Aldama is “very, very close.” May also said he watched rookie Tarik Biberović warm up on the television from the back, and the forward is moving well.
Santi Aldama Waits For His Dallas Mavericks Debut
Aldama’s last game came Feb. 4 with the Memphis Grizzlies. On March 17, he had an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee and an orthobiologic injection to address discomfort in it, and the surgery ended his season. Across 43 games for Memphis last season, 11 of them starts, he put up career highs of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists.
The Mavericks got Aldama in a six-team trade on July 8. He sat out all four preseason games, has missed all seven regular-season games, and will miss an eighth Wednesday. On Oct. 27, Dallas sent him to the Texas Legends for practice as part of his return-to-play protocol and recalled him the same day. He went through Wednesday morning’s shootaround in San Antonio.
On Oct. 30, before Dallas beat the Houston Rockets 116-111, May named Aldama and Dereck Lively II as the two players the Mavericks were still waiting on.
“Santi’s very close. He’s practiced with the Legends a couple times. He played in our stay-ready game. He looks to be very close,” May said that day.
Monday’s injury report moved Aldama from out to doubtful before a 115-100 home loss to the Sacramento Kings. He did not play.
“Santi … he’s moving closer and closer,” May explained before that game. “I think for him, it’s coming very soon.”
Tarik Biberović Warms Up In San Antonio
Biberović, a 25-year-old rookie forward, appeared in three preseason games before right heel bursitis kept him off the floor. Dallas acquired his draft rights from Memphis on July 8, and he also spent time with the Legends on Oct. 27.
Seven games into the season, the heel has kept Biberović out of every one, and May said he does not have an exact timeline for the rookie’s return.
“Very, very close for Santi,” May said Wednesday. “Tarik, I’m not sure the exact timeline, but I was watching on the television from the back him warm up, and he’s moving well. He looks good.”
“He had been battling this nagging injury and trying to manage it and play and manage and play,” May continued. “We basically are just trying to make sure we get him back where he can play extensive periods without being in and out of the lineup and find some consistency. So it’d be nice to have him back soon as well.”
Dallas ruled out Max Christie with right hip soreness and tightness after the starting guard left Monday’s loss in the second quarter. Sergio De Larrea (right knee sprain) and Lively (right foot surgery) are also out. Caleb Martin is available with a splint on his right thumb.
Kyrie Irving is off the injury report after resting Monday with left knee injury management. Cooper Flagg is available against San Antonio for the first time this season after a left shoulder sprain kept him out of the Oct. 24 meeting, a 122-106 Spurs win in Dallas.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. The Mavericks (4-3) return home Friday to host the Utah Jazz in NBA Cup group play, Aldama’s next chance to debut.
