What happened: The Dallas Mavericks have listed Santi Aldama as probable for Friday's home game against Utah. If cleared, the contest will mark his 2026-27 season debut. Aldama has been sidelined since undergoing knee surgery in the spring.

Why it matters: Aldama's return provides needed frontcourt depth as Dallas looks to rebound from consecutive losses. The Mavericks sit at 4-4 through eight games, holding the 11th seed in the Western Conference standings. Getting the forward back into the rotation strengthens interior rebounding and perimeter spacing.

What to watch: Dallas hosts Utah on Friday night, with Aldama's official game status to be finalized following pregame shootaround and warmups.