LOS ANGELES — Clippers big man Ivica Zubac exited the first half of Saturday’s intracity showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers due to a left ankle injury and will not return, the team announced.
Zubac went to the floor in a heap late in in the first quarter and immediately hobbled back to the locker room for evaluation after Brook Lopez subbed in for him.
Zubac finished with 5 points and 2 rebounds in 11 minutes.
Coming into the game, Lakers center Jaxson Hayes said Zubac — who entered the game averaging 16 points and 11.5 rebounds — would be a challenge to contend with.
“Zu is a dog, man,” Hayes said after the Lakers’ shootaround Saturday morning. “He’s, honestly, I feel like one of the most slept-on bigs in the league, man. If you play him, you know he’s like that. Zu has been like that for years.”
The Lakers (19-7) are No. 4 in the Western Conference. The Clippers (6-21) are 15th — dead last, after finishing fifth last season.
Before the Lakers game, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said he challenged his team to finish the season 35-20, which would extend the franchise’s streak to 15 straight seasons with a .500 record or better.
