‘Getting Very Close’: Dusty May Updates Tarik Biberović’s Heel Bursitis Before Dallas Mavericks Host Houston Rockets
DALLAS — Tarik Biberović is getting very close to returning from right heel bursitis, though not quite as close as Santi Aldama, Mavericks coach Dusty May said Friday before the Dallas Mavericks’ game against the Houston Rockets.
Biberović was listed as doubtful for the 7 p.m. CT tip-off at American Airlines Center, and he has yet to appear in a regular-season NBA game. He last played Oct. 11, coming off the bench when Dallas beat Houston in its second preseason game in Macao. The heel bursitis has kept him out since the preseason finale.
May answered one question about Aldama, Biberović, and Sergio De Larrea, and he put Aldama closest of the three to returning. He referred to De Larrea by his nickname, “Larry.”
“Santi’s very close,” May said. “He’s practiced with the Legends a couple times. He played in our stay-ready game. We called it the Hunt Club, the Hunt Club today. He looks to be very close.”
“Tarik, and I know Larry had the … Yeah, Larry. Tarik’s getting very close as well,” May continued. “Not quite as close as Santi, it doesn’t appear. But Larry will be reevaluated next week, and we’ll have a much clearer picture.”
Tarik Biberović’s Path To Dallas
Dallas acquired Biberović’s draft rights from Memphis in the six-team trade completed July 8, the same deal that brought Aldama and Marcus Sasser to the Mavericks. The Memphis Grizzlies took him in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He then signed a two-year, $6 million contract with Dallas, and the Mavericks paid $900,000, the most an NBA team can contribute, toward his $2 million release clause with Fenerbahçe.
The 25-year-old from Bosnia and Herzegovina played eight seasons for Fenerbahçe after joining the club in 2018. Last season, he averaged 11.3 points in the EuroLeague and shot 41.9% from 3-point range.
The Mavericks’ Wings Without Biberović
Caleb Martin returned Wednesday after missing the first four games with a right thumb sprain and scored 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, in the 120-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Two nights earlier, Walter Clayton Jr. scored 15 points off the bench at Miami, and Max Christie added 11 points with 3 3-pointers.
Dallas went 16-of-45 from 3-point range against Oklahoma City and 14-of-46 at Miami. In the opener at Houston, the Mavericks shot 11-of-37 from deep, and Sasser made 4 3-pointers on his way to 17 points off the bench.
Houston, which is 5-0, ruled out Alperen Şengün (low back soreness) and listed Marcus Smart (left forearm strain) as questionable. Dallas closes its homestand Monday against the Sacramento Kings.
