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The Lakers announced Friday that Zubac (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Zubac underwent an MRI earlier Friday, which confirmed the original diagnosis of a right high-ankle sprain, an injury the big man sustained in the first quarter of Thursday's loss to the Timberwolves. The 20-year-old will be reevaluated in two weeks once the season is over, and if the Lakers determine that Zubac is healing as expected, he should be available to suit up for the team during summer league play in the offseason. While he spent most of the first half of the season bouncing around between the NBA and D-League, Zubac seemed to establish himself as a promising long-term asset for the Lakers after the All-Star break, averaging 10.0 points, 4.5 rebound,s 1.2 assists and 1.1 blocks in 20.3 minutes per game. With Zubac now sidelined for the Lakers' final seven games and Timofey Mozgov already shut down in a coach's decision, look for Tarik Black to see increased minutes while likely entering the starting lineup at center. Zubac's absence should also create a regular spot in the rotation for Thomas Robinson the rest of the way.
