4:55 pm: The Pacers have officially confirmed Zubac’s injury in a press release. As expected, the 29-year-old big man will miss the rest of the season. He’s expected to make a full recovery, per the team.
10:02 am: Pacers center Ivica Zubac sustained a fractured rib in Wednesday’s loss to Portland, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter link), who reports that Zubac will sit out the rest of the season while he recovers from the injury.
Zubac left Wednesday’s game early, though his exit happened after he was on the wrong end of a Donovan Clingan elbow, and the head contusion he suffered on that play was the ailment he discussed during his post-game media session. It’s unclear when the rib fracture occurred.
Zubac, who was traded from the Clippers to Indiana at February’s deadline, was still recovering from a left ankle sprain at the time of the deal and didn’t make his Pacers debut until last week. He has been limited to just 48 total appearances this season due to various health issues.
In his five games as Indiana’s starting center – all losses – Zubac averaged 11.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 23.6 minutes per contest. His full-season averages were 14.1 PPG, 10.6 RPG, and 2.2 APG in 30.1 MPG.
Although Zubac was able to suit up for a few games as a Pacer this season, the team traded for him with an eye toward 2026/27 and beyond. With a healthy Zubac in the middle and star point guard Tyrese Haliburton back from his Achilles tear, Indiana is hopeful that it will once again become a title contender after coming within one win of a championship last June.
With Zubac unavailable, big man Jay Huff figures to reclaim a spot in the starting lineup. He started 15 of 16 games at the five between the start of February and Zubac’s debut. Reserve center Micah Potter, who lost his rotation spot with Zubac healthy, will likely resume playing regular minutes once he’s healthy. He was inactive on Tuesday and Wednesday due to a right triceps strain.
Pacers have made it so obvious that they are playing for 2027 I believe they could have won 40+ games with this team if they tried and were a little healthier
I don’t blame them though for the vision of Haliburton and Siakam with someone like dybantsa
with what players? they’ve had nobody healthy all year
Tough break (no pun intended). But I don’t think this impacts their draft status since they’ll most likely still be @ 14%
86% chance at #5 pick —
52.1% chance it’s in the top 4.
I’m just wishing. Worst record can’t do worse than #5 pick. It’s why they are tanking so hard. Top 4 is excellent pick.
If they don’t end up in the top 4 via the lottery draw, it flips to the Clippers It’s only protected top 4 and also way down into spots they won’t end up at.
Worst record means the worst outcome is #5 pick. Its what I hope happens.
48% of no pick. It’s 50/50 essentially.
Just to clarify, indy has 52.1% chance of top 4 pick which they’ll keep. 47.9% its 5th pick which will go to clips. But if that happens indy keeps their 2031 unprotected 1st. If they hang on to a top 4 pick now then that 2031 goes to clips. Indy is still giving up a 1st. Either now or in 5 yrs. Right now matters bec of their competitive window. In 5 yrs this group will be long gone
Next year Pacers are going to win 60+ games.
healthy hali, healthy zubac, siakam, nembhard, nesmith + boozer/dybansta/darryn/caleb = 2026-27 champs
Hahahahahaha
It’s always kinda silly to call champs, because anything can happen in a 7 game series, but yeah, Pacers are absolutely a top 3 team along with Boston and Detroit next year.
Why silly? They were 30min away from a title last yr. No zubac, no top pick
sigh…
Be careful what you wish for ….
Frankly Imo Clippers still make the trade. Even if pick is top 8 protected. Doing it for a top 4 pick. Only made the tank more critical. Now they have to have worst record. I am rooting for Clippers. Silver is too.
Really? Silver is rooting for the Clippers?!? With all the things that the Clippers have pulled over the years? Only a Knicks fan would make this comment. Guess you are still salty that the Pacers have bounced the Knicks from the playoffs the last 2 years.
Only thing that’s been Pulled is your jock. I suggest get off social media. And get your self respect back. Clippers haven’t done anything wrong all allegations. And whatever it is you think they did. It didn’t work.
And with the 5th pick in the draft …..
Oh, I forgot. I am speaking to a “casual” fan who frequently makes statements as facts that turn out to be pure fiction. Such as your lie that no previous team has gone from the Finals to worst record the following season. You kept repeating that nonsense IN ALL CAPS time after time on this website. Frankly you sound more like a Pacer hater than an actual Knicks fan.
No I just hate Bu t oles like you. You are old and confused. Nobody cares about tge Pacers. I just want the pick to go to Clippers. No rewards for tanking. Nobody dies this. I support this for all teams. Go get knowledge you bore me.
It seems that YOU care about the Pacers…a lot (as a hater). You post more on Pacers topics than Knicks topics!! Not sure why you are saying “Go get knowledge” because you have repeatedly made statements that show that you are nothing more than just a casual fan and don’t follow the NBA that closely. The Knicks have tanked TWICE in the last dozen years – only winning 17 games in the entire season each time. The Pacers have 15 wins right now – they may match the results of the Knicks previous tanking efforts. That would be a first for the Pacers – they have never finished with the worst record in the league prior to this season.
I don’t support tanking on purpose. There is no hate. I don’t care what Pacers do or don’t do. I just don’t want them to get a pick this year. You want to name that go for it. Yank it while Pacers Tank it.
Al…did you mean like….pulled and then snapped back really hard?
wedgie lol .
8th overall pick is what they deserve
The Pacers have the worst front office imaginable. Knowing they needed a Center, they should have drafted Raynaud instead of Newell. They might have 16 wins by now…/s
Owners are tight as a nuns. Possibly F-ed up big time, to save money. If clips get the no.5 pick the Zubac trade suddenly doesn’t look so good.
Pacers didn’t want to pay Mathurin.
They could have saved a ton of money by drafting Raynaud. Didn’t they go through like 10 centers the past 2 seasons? Like Al said, Raynaud was the best True Center in the draft. It could have solved all of their problems…LMAO.
So now you’re comparing Raynaud to a #1 pick. OK I must be getting thru then.
What does any of this have to do with the 42 nd pick. Real History. Can’t even snap right.
You keep saying he was the best center in the 25 draft. Are you changing your mind now? Look at all the centers they have gone through. They needed a center more than the Warriors.
When did they need a center. Before Turner left or after. They had two centers on roster after they let him walk. Why would they add talent. When they are tanking since day one. You clearly have missed the boat so often. You can’t even snap right.
This is how clueless you are. You never search anything. You just lie or blurt it out. The Pacers didn’t pick till #56 CLOWN. So even if they wanted him They couldn’t draft him. Clowns clowns themselves lmao ….
link to nba.com
Raynaud was projected as a late first rd pick. To this day you haven’t bothered to read up on him. Don’t waste my time clown. Now go wash Raynauds jock.
So, let me get this straight. They are the Eastern Conference Championship. They had a number injuries at the Center position. They probably knew they couldn’t resign Turner. So, why didn’t they go after a Center in the draft. They traded Mathurin for Zubac. Trading Mathurin for Reynaud could probably have netted them more assets.
Didn’t you say he was the best Center in the draft? He was destined to become a top 10 center in the NBA. That is just due diligence and insurance for a team that probably has designs of returning turn the ECF.
Sounds like a bigger need for them.
So we are past them not being able to draft him.
Are you this lost …….
Get a puppy . He’ll listen to you. Not about Kuminga or Raynaud. Are all Wagoneers as smart as you. It would answer a lot.
But…You are still hung up on the Warriors not drafting Raynaud. Everyone else has moved on. But, you are still hung up on it.
Based on reports following the 2025 NBA Draft, there is sentiment that the Golden State Warriors missed a significant opportunity by not drafting Maxime Raynaud, who has emerged as a standout rookie for the Sacramento Kings.
Even Google knows who you are. I googled what does a clueless Warrior fan need to know most. It came back . You mean Giants74 lol … no bs
link to bluemanhoop.com
link to facebook.com
link to 8points9seconds.com
While the Warriors often focus on immediate cap relief or specific draft strategies, letting a high-producing big man go to a Pacific Division rival like the Kings is viewed as a significant oversight in hindsight.
And on and on and on it goes ..😂😂😱
What a doofus?!! The 3rd link you sent me was from a Pacers fansite saying how they should have gone after Raynaud. What was I just saying? For some reason, you are fixated on Raynaud and the Warriors. Why not criticize all other teams for passing on Raynaud? Why only focus on one team?
Of course, if you really liked Raynaud, you would be happy that he found a team where he could have an early impact unlike all the other centers in the draft. The rest of them are sitting on the bench.
Yeah and god forbid another team likes him.
Unreal lol — you are the one posting Pacers should have drafted him. When they didn’t even have a pick. Yeah ok child
You hang in there. One day this will all make sense.
Giants74
March 20, 2026
The Pacers have the worst front office imaginable. Knowing they needed a Center, they should have drafted Raynaud instead of Newell. They might have 16 wins by now…/s
March 20, 2026
You keep saying he was the best center in the 25 draft. Are you changing your mind now? Look at all the centers they have gone through. They needed a center more than the Warriors.
Yeah OK child. Babbling helps you pronounce. Keep at it … You keep pushing Raynaud on teams. O’m syre Kings are dying to give him away.
And another one gone, and another one gone …
remember Mike Newlin? dude could flat out shoot
One of the first floppers ever
Phewww! Wouldn’t want to win a single game and lose that top 5-7 pick!