Ivica Zubac lasted just five games with the Indiana Pacers before a reported season-ending injury. Zubac reportedly sustained a broken rib during Wednesday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers and will miss the rest of the season due to the issue, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Zubac, 29, left Wednesday’s game — a 127-119 loss by the Pacers — in the fourth quarter shortly after taking a hit to the head. The big man was involved in a few physical plays in the contest that weren’t whistled as fouls, resulting in Zubac pleading his case with officials before leaving the contest.
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He was initially deemed questionable to return with a head contusion. The team did not mention the possibility of a rib injury during — or immediately after — the contest.
Zubac was a key trade acquisition by the Pacers at the deadline. The team gave up Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson and two first-round picks in exchange for the center, who was battling an ankle injury at the time.
That injury forced Zubac to miss his first 14 games with the Pacers. He returned to the court in mid-March, and put up solid numbers in five games prior to his reported injury.
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After a breakout season last year, in which Zubac made the second-team All-Defensive team and earned Defensive Player of the Year votes, Zubac mostly retained his production this season.
Through 48 games, Zubac was averaging 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds.