The Indiana Pacers will be without Ivica Zubac for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after the veteran center suffered a rib fracture.
According to Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star, Zubac suffered a concussion during Wednesday's game and will not return this season.
"Recently acquired Pacers center Ivica Zubac suffered a fractured rib in Wednesday's game and will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season," Dopirak reports.
"Zubac left the game with a head injury after being hit by an elbow from Portland center Donovan Clingan, but he also had an ice pack with him while speaking to media members after the game."
Zubac played through the injury in Indiana's 127–119 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and finished with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one block. He shot 7 of 18 from the field and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line in 23 minutes.
Pacers' frontcourt is vacant due to Ivica Zubac's injury amid consecutive losses
The 29-year-old was in the early stages of his Pacers tenure after being acquired from the Los Angeles Clippers at the trade deadline. In five games with Indiana, Zubac averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the field in 23.6 minutes per contest under a minutes restriction.
Prior to the trade, Zubac was enjoying a productive season with Los Angeles, averaging 14.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 43 games, including 42 starts, while shooting 61.3 percent from the field.
His absence leaves a significant void in Indiana's frontcourt as the team is going through a difficult season. The Pacers enter the game at 15-55 and are in the midst of a franchise-record 15-game losing streak.
Indiana will try to regroup as it begins a two-game road trip against the San Antonio Spurs (52-18) on Saturday night at 8 pm ET.
With Zubac sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Pacers will likely turn to their remaining frontcourt options as they evaluate roster pieces heading into the offseason.
