The Mavericks downgraded Tarik Biberovic from day-to-day to out on Tuesday's injury report with a right heel issue. He is unlikely to play in Wednesday's season opener at Houston, with a return listed for Friday, Oct. 23.
What happened
Tarik Biberovic was listed as out on the Mavericks' injury report filed Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6:16 PM ET. The listed detail is a right heel issue. He had been day-to-day with the same heel problem since Friday, Oct. 16, so this is a downgrade. The report's comment says Biberovic (heel) is unlikely to play in Wednesday's season opener against the Rockets, per Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 23. No further detail on the heel has been announced.
What it means for the Mavericks
The next game is the season opener at the Rockets on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 8:30 PM ET. Dallas is 0-0, so there is no record with or without Biberovic yet, and the 25-year-old forward has no season line to point to. Without him, the forward minutes run through Cooper Flagg at 33.5 minutes and 21.0 points, P.J. Washington at 31.0 minutes and 14.2 points, and Naji Marshall at 29.5 minutes and 15.2 points. Anthony Davis, Max Christie, Brandon Williams, Daniel Gafford and Klay Thompson round out the rotation. The depth is already thin: Caleb Martin, Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama are also out.
What to watch
The next injury report ahead of Wednesday's game at Houston will confirm whether Biberovic is a formal scratch. The expected return listed on the report is Friday, Oct. 23, which would put him back for the games that follow the opener. If the heel lingers, the status could change again on a later report. The other three players out, Martin, Lively and Aldama, also have no return date announced.
Is Tarik Biberovic playing at the Rockets on Wednesday?
He is listed as out on the Oct. 20 injury report with a right heel issue and is unlikely to play, per Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com.
When will Tarik Biberovic be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 23. No firm return game has been announced.