Questions surrounding Ivica Zubac's debut with the Indiana Pacers will remain unanswered for at least one more game.
Indiana listed Zubac out with a left ankle sprain on its injury report Wednesday morning ahead of the team's game with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Pacers begin a four-game West Coast road trip in Los Angeles on Wednesday night at 10:30 pm ET.
The injury designation means Zubac will not face his former team as he continues to work towards his first appearance since being acquired at the February trade deadline.
Indiana acquired the 28-year-old center from the Clippers in a landmark deal that also included Pacers-bound forward Kobe Brown. Los Angeles received a package centered on Benedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson, along with two first-round picks in 2026 and 2029 and a future second-round pick.
Zubac was enjoying one of the most productive periods of his career before the trade. In 43 games with the Clippers this season, he averaged 14.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while shooting 61.3 percent from the field and 70.5 percent from the free-throw line. He started 42 of those contests and recorded 30.9 minutes per game, becoming a consistent interior presence.
Ivica Zubac Pacers debut delayed as Benedict Mathurin moves on with Clippers
His most recent appearance came on February 2 in the Clippers' 128–113 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Zubac recorded eight points, nine rebounds, two assists and one block while shooting 3-for-3 from the field in 33 minutes.
Indiana continues to wait for the veteran center to debut as it looks to stabilize a frontcourt that underwent major changes at the deadline. The Pacers enter Wednesday at 15-46 and are looking for consistency during the final stretch of the season.
Meanwhile, Mathurin has begun to carve out a role with the Clippers following the trade. The 23-year-old guard has averaged 18.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in eight games with Los Angeles, shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 85 percent from the free-throw line while playing 30.4 minutes per contest.
Mathurin recently contributed in the Clippers' 114-101 win over the Golden State Warriors. He finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, one block and one steal while shooting 6 of 13 from the field and converting all five of his free-throw attempts in 31 minutes.
Although Zubac will not make his debut against his former team in Indiana, the Pacers expect him to eventually take on an interior role as the organization evaluates its new-shaped roster following the deadline trade.
