Kyle Kuzma on Ivica Zubac: ‘One the most underrated bigs in the league’

Kyle Kuzma: Zu one the most underrated bigs in the league and I’m happy you had a game like that for everyone to see wow!!!!! @Ivica Zubac  Source: Twitter @kylekuzma What’s the buzz on Twitter? Emiliano Carchia @ Sportando Ivica Zubac: I was mad …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Ivica Zubac: I was mad at myself because I wanted to get that 30 and 30 so bad
sportando.basketball/en/ivica-zubac…5:05 AM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
The Pacers have witnessed prime Kareem before their eyes in Ivica Zubac 🤯
31 PTS (Season High)
29 REB (Career High)
14/17 FG
3 BLK
3 AST pic.twitter.com/5t7a5Vpjvm1:26 AM

Kyle Kuzma @kylekuzma
Zu one the most underrated bigs in the league and I’m happy you had a game like that for everyone to see wow!!!!! @Ivica Zubac 💐 – 12:50 AM
Kyle Kuzma @kylekuzma
Zu one of the most underrated bugs in the league and I’m glad he had the game he did tonight wow! @Ivica Zubac 💐 – 12:49 AM
Kyle Kuzma @kylekuzma
To be successful it’s all about how disciplined you are with a sprinkle of luck💯 – 12:44 AM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
🆕 @TheAthletic
When DeAndre Jordan was in his age-25 season, he played 30+ minutes for first time.
Same thing 9 years later for Ivica Zubac. Age 25, 30+ minutes for first time.
Clippers have long manifested dominant games for Zu. 31 and 29 today. 🇭🇷
https://t.co/GpP21mtG9j pic.twitter.com/2zrcd8Tp6511:10 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
🆕 @TheAthletic
When DeAndre Jordan was in his age-25 season, he played 30+ minutes for first time.
Same thing 9 years later for Ivica Zubac. Age 25, 30+ minutes for first time.
The Clippers have long manifested dominant games for Zu, and it culminated with 31 and 29 Sunday. pic.twitter.com/6HMELT4zsd11:08 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Players with a 30/25 game on 80% shooting since the 3pt era:
Shaq
Chuck
Zubac pic.twitter.com/Co5pXpyFZK8:44 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
Zubac today:
31 PTS
29 REB
Only Dwight Howard has topped those numbers in a game in the last 40 seasons. pic.twitter.com/08y8l2YOu58:39 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
STORY: Pacers fall flat in Game 1 of road trip, have no answer to Clippers center Ivica Zubac.
Running thoughts: fieldhousefiles.com/p/running-thou…7:31 PM
Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwanson
Man! The Clippers’ reliable @CDzierzanowski (go Duck) stayed busy this afternoon adding historical context to Big Zu’s really big game: pic.twitter.com/5BNswTCAhY7:23 PM

Janis Carr @janiscarr
“It’s special to witness something special,” Nico Batum said of Zubac’s career game. – 7:19 PM
Ralph Lawler @Ohmeomy
I was busy watching NFL today and just saw Zubac 31 pts and 19 Rebs!
Yikes! – 7:18 PM
Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
Kyle Kuzma’s lower back soreness flared up Saturday night, per Wes Unseld Jr. who attributed it to the 39 minutes averaged the last 5 games.
Kuz did a light pre-game warmup (followed by extensive film with assistant coach Ryan Richman), but was not concerned with the severity. – 7:05 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Ivica Zubac: “If you’re playing the Clippers, I don’t want anyone to have anything easy at the rim.” – 7:04 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Zubac says that Ty Lue called the first play of the game for him. 🔋🔋🔋 – 7:02 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Ty Lue happy for Zu.
Also happy for Rams intercepting Patrick Mahomes in the 4th quarter lol – 6:54 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
Zubac dropped a stat line so good it made Kawhi smile 😄 pic.twitter.com/zjEXQ4rjI46:35 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers beat Pacers 114-100 to win their first game without Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this season.
Ivica Zubac: 31 points (14/17 FGs), 29 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 3/3 FTs. How Do U Want It? pic.twitter.com/KnTyMV96qN6:30 PM

Tony East @TEastNBA
Pacers get to 100 with a dunk late, but the Clippers dominated all night and win 114-100. Ivica Zubac was incredible with 31 points and 29 rebounds for the Clippers.
Pacers: 38.3% from the field, 21.4% from deep. Jalen Smith and TJ McConnell the only guys to shoot over 40%. – 6:29 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Pacers have their worst game of the season to begin the road trip, lose 114-100 to the Clippers.
– Would have season-low pt total if not for 3FGs in the final minute
– Season-low 21% (9/42) from 3
– Outrebounded 62-39
– Zubac tallies 31/29
Up next: Monday at Lakers (10:30pm ET) – 6:28 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
31-29 is insane. Ivica Zubac has been one of the league’s underrated stars for a while, and he doesn’t have a backup to spell him. – 6:27 PM
The Vertical @YahooSportsNBA
Ivica Zubac was a BEAST today 💪
🔵 31 PTS
🔵 29 REB
🔵 3 BLK
🔵 14/17 FG (82%) pic.twitter.com/3tOwr3U2ys6:26 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Paul George on Ivica Zubac, January 2021:
“We gotta keep pumping Zu. You know, Zu just doesn’t know how dominant he can be. You forget how young he is, he’s still a baby. But it’s on us to continue to give him that positive reinforcement. Just tell him to keep going.” – 6:25 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
Ivica Zubac made the best game we’ve seen from a big man this year (by far). 31 points, 29 rebounds, 14-17FG, 3 blocks. He was UNSTOPPABLE!
One of the most dominant performances from a big man in this league EVER! #ClipperNation #NBATwitter6:23 PM
James Plowright @British_Buzz
Ivica Zubac is FEASTING, holy cow. – 6:23 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Ivica Zubac just dominated today. 31 points, 29 rebounds and three blocks. – 6:22 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Ivica Zubac just dominated today. 21 points, 29 rebounds and three blocks. – 6:21 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Ivica Zubac just did a Minnesota Kevin Love. – 6:20 PM
Eric Patten @EricPatten
Zubac with first game with 31+ points and 29+ boards in @nba since Dwight in 2018. Kevin Love did it in 2010. That’s it since LAC moved to Los Angeles. Moses Malone did it in 1982 last before Love. – 6:19 PM
John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann
Ivica Zubac fouls out just 1 rebound shy (he had 31 & 29) of what would have been just the 3rd 30/30 game in the last 40 years…
Kevin Love – 31 & 31 – Nov. 12, 2010
Dwight Howard – 32 & 30 – Mar. 21, 2018
Before that…
Moses Malone – 38 & 32 – Feb. 11, 1982 – 6:16 PM
Eric Patten @EricPatten
Zubac had the fifth 29+ rebound performance in franchise history and first since 1988 – 6:16 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Zu fouls out with 31 points and 29 rebounds. Gets a standing ovation with 3:40 to play – 6:15 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Ivica Zubac has fouled out with 31 points and 29 rebounds. Clippers out of challenges.
Still gets much deserved standing ovation. – 6:15 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
31 points for Ivica Zubac. Needs a rebound. – 6:14 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Swen Nater holds the Clippers franchise rebounding record at 32. Zu next? – 6:13 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Zubac entered the game with career-highs of 32 & 18.
He has 29-29 with 5mins left.
Will Ty Lue let him finish the game? – 6:12 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
High drama here.
Ivica Zubac has 29 points and 29 rebounds.
And five fouls. – 6:12 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Zubac now has 29 and 29. Still in the game. – 6:11 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Sunday crowd knows they are watching something special, cheering Zubac as he grabs rebounds and scores his 27th point. – 6:11 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Rebound Zu
Bucket Zu
Free throw Zu pic.twitter.com/VwJ1Ynnu8X6:10 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Referees hating on Zu lol
Called him for ATO travel just as he was about to hook Isaiah Jackson, then called him for a foul as he was about to rim protect for another rebound.
HATE HATE HATE – 6:09 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers starting to take some irresponsible 3s, but that’s not important yet.
LA is up 97-79 with 6:15 left. This should be operation get the ball to Zu. He has 24 points and 28 rebounds.
The only 30-30 games in NBA since 1980:
– Moses (1982)
– Love (2010)
– Dwight (2018) – 6:08 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Zubac now has 28 rebounds and 24 points. How high can he go? There’s still 6:15 to play. – 6:07 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Ivica Zubac putting up Shaq-like numbers. He has 24 points and 25 rebounds — the most rebounds in a single NBA game this season. – 6:01 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Pacers have missed all 13 second half 3s.
Zubac’s sixth dunk of the game was followed by Reggie Jackson’s first 3 of the game.
Carlisle timeout 41 seconds into fourth quarter. LA takes largest lead of the game at 87-69. – 5:54 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Ty Lue is calling fourth quarter opening plays for IVICA ZUBAC – 5:53 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers ran out of buckets last 3:27 of third quarter, still take 82-69 lead into fourth quarter vs Pacers.
Ivica Zubac should just go for the 30-30. He has 22/21 with 3 blocks in 27 minutes. LA has outscored Pacers 52-34 in paint and shockingly have 14-7 off. rebound advantage – 5:51 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
They double Zu *one time* and LA’s 11-1 run is over after a pick six finished by Mathurin.
Still! Clippers playing well, up 81-67 with 2:45 left in third quarter. – 5:42 PM
Eric Patten @EricPatten
Last @Los Angeles Clippers player with 20+ boards was DJ (3-21-18). Zubac has almost a quarter and a half to add more to his gaudy total. – 5:37 PM
Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
Wizards at Celtics – TD Garden – Nov. 27, 2022 – Starters
Boston – Smart, White, Brown, Horford, G. Williams
Washington – Monte Morris, Bradley Beal. Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, Kristaps Porzingis
OUT: Boston: Tatum, R. Williams, Gallinari Washington: Kuzma, Wright, Hachimura pic.twitter.com/XMEEYSRnsI5:37 PM

Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Zubac having perhaps the best game of his career. 20pts, career-high 21rebs, 3blks. 10 of 13 shooting, all in the paint.
Wonder if they’ll try the more physical Bitadze or Johnson on him? For now, Turner playing with four fouls.
And the Clippers’ lead is 15. pic.twitter.com/kg6NdvsYyB5:36 PM

Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Wiz starters in Boston with Kyle Kuzma (low back pain) OUT and Monte Morris (ankle soreness) returning:
Morris
Beal
Kispert
Avdija
Porzingis
@kareemcopeland is on the scene for this one! – 5:35 PM
Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
With Kyle Kuzma out because of lower back pain, the Wizards will shift Deni Avdija to power forward in the starting lineup. From the team, its starters will be:
PG: Monté Morris
SG: Bradley Beal
SF: Corey Kispert
PF: Deni Avdija
C: Kristaps Porziņģis – 5:33 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Zubac has a career-high 19 rebounds and there’s still more than 19 minutes left in the game. – 5:30 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Career high 19 rebounds for Ivica Zubac. – 5:28 PM
Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
Monte Morris will return tonight against the Celtics but Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura and Johnny Davis are all OUT, the Wizards announced. – 5:19 PM
Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
Monté Morris will be available to play tonight after he missed the last three games because of right ankle soreness, the Wizards said. Johnny Davis (right groin soreness), Rui Hachimura (right ankle soreness) and Kyle Kuzma (lower back pain) will NOT play. – 5:18 PM
Eurohoops @Eurohoopsnet
Per @ClippersPR Ivica Zubac is the first Clipper to have at least 15 points and 15 rebounds at halftime since DeAndre Jordan on 3/21/18 at Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/SKZcCaf3Uy5:15 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers lost yet another second quarter, but for the first time in three games, they lead at halftime, 59-57.
Zubac has 16/15/3 blocks at half, but LA played better with him off the floor. Mann playing complete game. Powell scoring off bench.
Batum might drop 30 in 2nd half😂 – 5:10 PM
Tony East @TEastNBA
Pacers down 59-57 at the half. Jalen Smith keeping the Pacers in it with 19 points and 6 rebounds, and Tyrese Haliburton had 10 points and 8 assists. But it’s the Clippers, and Zubac’s 16 points and 15 rebounds, that have the lead. – 5:09 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Not a good half, yet the Pacers are down just two, 59-57, after Buddy Hield sinks a reverse layup as the half expires.
Both teams shooting 45%. Zubac up to 16/15. Smith leads all with 19/6 and Haliburton has 10/8a.
Difference is LAC having their way on the boards + paint points – 5:08 PM
Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwanson
Damn, Zu. 16 points and 15 rebounds in 17 minutes already vs. Myles Turner and Indiana? Monster numbers for a nice guy. Happy for him – 5:03 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Jalen Smith is off to the best game in his young career. Already 17pts, two shy of his career-high. He’s getting more minutes, too, because of Turner’s foul trouble.
Pacers still haven’t solved the Zubac Problem (16/15). – 5:01 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Jalen Smith finally missed a 3, an airball, and Zubac raised his arms like Christ the Redeemer — as if to say “finally” – 4:57 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
No Jayson Tatum for the Celtics tonight.
Rui Hachimura, Kyle Kuzma and Monte Morris all remain gametime decisions for the Wizards. – 4:48 PM
Neil Dalal @NeilDalal96
All of the Wizards questionable at Celtics are game-time decisions, per Wes Unseld Jr.
– Kyle Kuzma (low back pain)
– Rui Hachimura (right ankle soreness)
– Monte Morris (right ankle soreness)
– Johnny Davis (right groin soreness) – 4:38 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
The first quarter was the Ivica Zubac show. The Clippers’ center has 14-9-2b and they’ve scored 26 of 35pts in the paint.
Pacers, down 35-29, need to get a handle of their inside defense.
Jalen Smith has 10pts, Haliburton with 3/7a. – 4:38 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Ivica Zubac is out here looking like Shaq. Already up to 12 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks.
Previous two games, Zubac COMBINED for 14 points, 14 rebounds, 1 block. We know Ty Lue said something lol.
LA leads Pacers 19-18 with 4:35 left in first quarter. – 4:26 PM
Tony East @TEastNBA
Zubac has been ridiculous for the Clippers – 4:25 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Good thing Zubac is in there. He’s keeping the Clippers afloat with his putbacks and dunks. He is 6 of 7 with 12 pts and 7 rebs – 4:24 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Four dunks already in this game, two from Ivica Zubac (should be five, Twin smoked a layup with Zubac screening Turner for him).
Pacers up 16-12 with 6:34 left in opening quarter. Told @bellikemike that 115 points will be needed to win this game. – 4:19 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Clippers-Pacers starters
LAC
Amir Coffey
Marcus Morris Sr.
Ivica Zubac
Terance Mann
Reggie Jackson
IND
Buddy Hield
Jalen Smith
Myles Turner
Aaron Nesmith
Tyrese Haliburton – 3:50 PM
Kyle Kuzma @kylekuzma
UConn Iowa on ESPN 🔥🔥 – 2:04 PM
Chris Miller @cmillsnbcs
Jayson Tatum is OUT vs. Wizards (left ankle sprain). Kyle Kuzma, Rui Hachimura, Monte Morris, Johnny Davis are listed as questionable. – 12:12 PM
Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
While the Wizards have key rotation players Kuzma, Morris and Hachimura questionable for tonight, they are playing the Celtics without Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams. Both teams are banged up. – 10:36 AM
Chase Hughes @ChaseHughesNBCS
With Kyle Kuzma now added to the injury report, a look at how the Wizards’ depth has been tested recently and how injuries have compounded their struggling bench. ift.tt/y5i2v9310:30 AM
Ava Wallace @avarwallace
Kyle Kuzma joins the Wizards’ ever-growing injury report; he’s questionable tonight in Boston with low back pain.
Also questionable:
Monte Morris (ankle)
Rui Hachimura (ankle)
Johnny Davis (groin) – 9:41 AM
Josh Robbins @JoshuaBRobbins
The Wizards have added Kyle Kuzma to their injury report because of lower back pain, listing him as questionable to play tonight in Boston. Also questionable: Johnny Davis (right groin soreness), Rui Hachimura (right ankle soreness) and Monté Morris (right ankle soreness). – 9:40 AM

More on this storyline

NBA Central: Ivica Zubac today: 31 points 29 rebounds 3 blocks 14/17 FG pic.twitter.com/XFjsivCMzy -via Twitter @TheNBACentral / November 27, 2022
Kyle Kuzma: We would of repeat if we were healthy -via Twitter @kylekuzma / November 27, 2022
Chase Hughes: Kyle Kuzma is now questionable for tonight’s Wizards-Celtics game with lower back pain, per the team. Morris, Hachimura and Davis are also questionable. -via Twitter @ChaseHughesNBCS / November 27, 2022