The Clippers improve on Ivica Zubac’s perfect record by knocking off the Lakers

The Los Angeles Clippers continued an impressive record when the center Ivica Zubac sets a specific stat line. Like a star point guard James Harden has reached a personal milestoneLue’s team dominated the Los Angeles Lakers 116-102 in an impressive display on both sides. The Clippers are now 24-17 overall and fifth in the Western Conference. The team managed this even with a superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard he only played in four games.

Much of this success can be attributed to Ivica Zubac, who has been one of the best centers in the NBA this season. Averaging career highs in points, rebounds and steals, the nine-year veteran had 21 points and 19 boards on Sunday night. After this performance, StatMuse revealed that the Clippers are 7-0 when their center scored at least 20 points and 15 rebounds this season.

Ivica Zubac’s breakthrough season allowed the Clippers to advance this season

Along with guard Norman Powell, Ivica Zubac proved that individual NBA players can do much more when given more significant roles. And in Kawhi Leonard’s absence for most of the year, along with the departure of Pavle Đorđe this offseason, Ty Lue has helped these two improve. Powell averaged a career-high 23.7 points per game with astonishing efficiency. Meanwhile, Zubac made huge leaps at both ends of the floor.

What’s particularly impressive is that the big man is hitting double-digit rebounds for the first time in his career. And Zubac barely reaches that metric; he is currently averaging 12.5 boards per game, which is fourth in the NBA.

The 2024-2025 season will likely be a new one for Ty Lue and company. There was and still is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Kawhi Leonard’s availability for the foreseeable future. Additionally, as Paul George left for the Sixers, star point guard James Harden was entering his 17th season at age 35.

Fortunately, “The Beard” was an excellent floor general for Los Angeles through 41 games. Additionally, the Clippers have been elite defensively so far, posts the second best defensive rating in the NBA. Winners of four straight games, this team seems to be getting safer and healthier by the day. However, the key to this team’s title shot will be the health of Leonard.

Overall, the fact that Ivica Zubac already has seven games in which he recorded at least 20 points and 15 rebounds shows how elite he was this season. As the Croatian giant progresses, so do the Clippers. Los Angeles, therefore, needs to continue to nurture its center, which has turned into a star at the age of 27.