Zubac makes most of start
Center finishes with 16 points, 11 rebounds in place of McGee, who remains sidelined.
Ivica Zubac stood his ground late in a close game between the Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, rejecting a shot by former teammate Julius Randle and helping his team maintain a 111-104 lead with 57.4 seconds left.
Zubac glanced at Randle after the block, his right hand now down by his side. His teammates stood and cheered, as did fans inside Staples Center.
Zubac showed poise while scoring 16 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, blocking two shots and getting two steals. He was a surprise starter, filling in for JaVale McGee, who was home suffering an upper respiratory infection that had sidelined him for a third consecutive game.
“Every time I’m in the [practice] building he’s doing something,” Lakers coach Luke Walton said of Zubac. “He’s either in the weight room or he’s running. He’s playing two on two. He’s working out with the coaches.
“So, you notice those things and when opportunities come, it makes you feel confident to go to someone that hasn’t been playing a lot.”’
The ailing and weary Lakers were in desperate need of some sort of infusion coming off a 1-3 trip that took them through Houston, Charlotte, Washington and Brooklyn.
They got that jolt from center Zubac and point guard Rajon Rondo.
Rondo was back after missing the last 17 games recovering from surgery to repair a broken right hand.
Zubac began the game making his first five shots. He also was assigned to defend Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis at times.
And Zubac provided one of the highlight moments for fans, blocking a Davis shot off a lob pass from Jru Holiday late in the fourth quarter, giving the Lakers possession of the ball.
Zubac missed just two of his 10 shots.
“That’s what we always tell our guys, stay ready and work and your opportunity will come,” Walton said. “And he took full advantage of that tonight.”
Rondo entered the game with 4:54 left in the first quarter, his first game since suffering an injury Nov. 14 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
He finished with eight points, nine assists and four rebounds.
Rondo spent last season playing for the Pelicans and left an impression on New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry.
Gentry shared his thoughts about Rondo with Walton during the summer.
“I think communication with him is key,” Gentry said. “Obviously he’s been out a while, but I don’t think anybody is going to be a better of a communicator than Luke with him. So I think he’s going to be fine.
“He’s a great leader. He really is. And he has this ability to make guys follow him, that guys will just fall in line and follow him. He’s probably as an intelligent of a player as I’ve ever coached, just the basketball knowledge and understanding the game. And he’s really, really good with young players. Young players really like being around him and he does a good job.”