Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac is expected to play Saturday.
The Clippers’ big man was dealing with an ankle injury that’s kept him out since the team’s 103-88 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 20. He was expected to miss several weeks.
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Last season, Zubac finished sixth in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting and was second for the Most Improved Player award. He was also named to the league’s All-Defensive second team.
Here’s the latest on Zubac’s return:
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Dallas Mavericks’ Cooper Flagg dunks the ball past the Toronto Raptors’ Sandro Mamukelashvili at the American Airlines Center.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Washington Wizards’ Cam Whitmore dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 26: The Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. dunks in front of the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama at Frost Bank Center.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 25: The Denver Nuggets’ Christian Braun dunks the ball against the Phoenix Suns’ Grayson Allen at Ball Arena.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 24: The Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. dunks against the Miami Heat at FedExForum.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 24: The Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo dunks over the Memphis Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. at FedExForum.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 22: The New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby goes up for a reverse dunk against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden.
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Dribble into this collection of dunk photos as NBA stars posterize opponents
Oct. 22: The Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen dunks against the Los Angeles Clippers at Delta Center.
Ivica Zubac injury update
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday that Zubac will attempt a return after the center “attacked his rehab” for the Grade 2 ankle sprain he suffered in late December.
Zubac injured his left ankle late in the first quarter against the Lakers as he was attempting to make a play under the basket.
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He was seen limping off the court and to the locker room. He did not return to that game.
Ivica Zubac stats
Zubac has averaged 15.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 28 games played for the Clippers this season.
When do the Clippers play next?
The Clippers will host the Boston Celtics on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ivica Zubac injury update, Celtics vs. Clippers status