Clippers Lose Ivica Zubac to Ankle Injury in First Quarter Against Lakers
The LA Clippers came into Saturday night looking for a reset. After a tough loss to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder, a two-game homestand at the new Intuit Dome felt like the perfect chance to regroup. But instead of a bounce-back performance, the night took a tough turn just 11 minutes in.
Ivica Zubac, the Clippers’ starting center and one of their most consistent presences this season, went down with an apparent left ankle injury early in the first quarter against the Lakers. The play was routine-until it wasn’t.
Ivica Zubac appeared to sprain his ankle and went down immediately grabbing at it.
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 21, 2025
Zu was then helped up by Brook Lopez and Lakers’ Luka Doncic before hobbling back to the Clippers locker room. pic.twitter.com/88RLBQ2pBw
Zubac immediately reached for his ankle and stayed down as the possession continued around him. It was clear something wasn’t right.
Brook Lopez, Zubac’s veteran teammate, and Lakers star Luka Doncic were quick to help him up. Zubac was able to limp off under his own power, but the concern was immediate. Just minutes later, the Clippers ruled him out for the remainder of the game.
Before the injury, Zubac had already logged five points, two rebounds, and an assist in just 11 minutes-all in the opening frame. It wasn’t a huge stat line, but Zubac’s impact goes far beyond the box score. He’s been a steady interior anchor for LA all season, giving them rim protection, rebounding, and efficient scoring around the basket.
Coming into the night, Zubac had played in all 27 of the Clippers’ games this season, averaging 16 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and a block per game. He’s been shooting an efficient 60.8% from the field and knocking down nearly 71% of his free throws-numbers that speak to his reliability on both ends.
With Zubac sidelined, the Clippers suddenly find themselves thin at the five. Brook Lopez, now 37, is the only healthy center on the roster.
Ivica Zubac has been ruled OUT for the remainder of Lakers-Clippers with a left ankle injury. https://t.co/wxZABRt3s6
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) December 21, 2025
Rookie Yanic Konan-Niederhauser, who’s still finding his footing in the league, was ruled out for the night with left knee soreness. That leaves LA in a tough spot, especially against teams that like to play big or attack the paint.
Zubac’s durability has been a quiet strength for the Clippers, and his absence-no matter how long-is going to test their depth. For a team with playoff aspirations and a roster built around stars who thrive with a strong interior presence, this injury couldn’t come at a worse time.
Now, the focus shifts to recovery and next steps. The Clippers will hope for good news on the severity of Zubac’s ankle, but in the meantime, they’ll need to get creative with their frontcourt rotations. Whether that means going small, leaning more on Lopez, or finding minutes for a two-way player, LA’s coaching staff has some decisions to make.
One thing is clear: if the Clippers want to stay competitive in the West, they’ll need to find a way to weather this storm-and fast.