Sports
Ivica Zubac continues to play a big role in the Clippers' surging success
A half-dozen media members converged around the locker of Ivica Zubac late Monday night when one exceptionally tall person joined the scrum, too, pointing his phone’s camera at the Clippers center.
It was Zubac’s backup, Daniel Theis, who smiled before quickly leaving. The joke disguised the truth that the spotlight has never found Zubac more than in his eighth season, and sixth since joining the Clippers.
Zubac’s 19 points — making eight of his nine shots — and eight rebounds in a 138-111 rout of Phoenix at Crypto.com Arena came one night after he had 22 points with 19 rebounds during a loss to the Lakers. The longest-tenured Clipper, Zubac isn’t the focus in a locker room dominated by four future Hall of Fame teammates, but behind a career-high 65.6% shooting, averages that would set or match career-bests in rebounds (9.7), assists (1.3) and blocks (1.4) and a burgeoning pick-and-roll chemistry with point guard James Harden, Zubac has become as central to the Clippers’ 23-13 start as anyone with higher billing.
“I’ve always been confident,” Zubac said, “but right now it’s at a high level.”
As is the team’s confidence in the 26-year-old. When the Suns removed center Jusuf Nurkic in favor of a lineup of all wings midway through the third quarter, coach Tyronn Lue kept Zubac in for the next six minutes. The Clippers led by 11 when the Suns went small, and were still up 11 when Zubac went to the bench in the quarter’s final seconds.
Clippers forward Paul George, center, grabs a rebound between Phoenix’s Josh Okogie, left, and Jusuf Nurkic during the first half Monday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
It felt like a moment of coaching chicken, Lue and Frank Vogel waiting to see who would be the first to adjust. If in the past it might have been a cue for Lue to sub out Zubac, who rarely had a conventional defensive assignment, Lue said there were advantages to playing their big man.
“We just thought him around the basket was tough,” Lue said. “You could throw it up to him, we could post him, offensive rebounds, and I just thought that keeping him on the floor would be better defensively. And then offensively as well, if he’s setting pick and rolls and they’re switching, we can post Zu and can also get on the glass as well. And so it worked out for us.”
Even with all three of Phoenix’s superstars playing, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal were not enough to offset all five Clippers starters scoring in double figures, led by Paul George’s 25 points and seven rebounds. Kawhi Leonard scored 17 points. Harden scored 19 points with 10 assists and seven rebounds and Terance Mann continued his rebound from a poor shooting start to the season, making 10 of his last 18 three-pointers.
One night after the Lakers’ length led to 16 turnovers and the Clippers’ worst shooting performance of the season, the Suns watched the Clippers shoot 62% from the field, including 51% on three-pointers, making 15 of their 29 shots. A 15-0 run in the fourth quarter emptied all suspense, and led both coaches to empty their benches with four minutes to play.
One year ago, the Clippers entered the final weeks before February’s trade deadline with a priority to add depth at center after using stopgap measures at backup center. This season, the position is the strongest it has been in Leonard and George’s five-season era. Of 67 centers across the league who have appeared in at least 20 games, Zubac ranks eighth-best in the field-goal percentage allowed on shots he defends within six feet of the rim.
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant drives past Clippers guard James Harden during the first half Monday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Theis, signed in November to fill the void after Mason Plumlee sustained a torn MCL, has played so well that Plumlee — despite being in a contract year — approached the coaching staff after the team’s ninth consecutive win in late December to say that though he was close to a return, they should continue playing Theis so as to not upset the team’s established rhythm.
“I was just like, ‘Hey, I’m feeling good, I’m looking forward to coming back but at the same time I’m conscious of how well everything is going,’” Plumlee told The Times; he has since appeared in two games. “… I’ve been on the other side of it where I was playing my rookie year and my older player was like ‘Hey, he’s with the starting group, they’re playing well, let him burn,’ and it gave him some more time to get all the way back. I’ve been on both sides of it.
“If you know your value it’s like, I’m not self-conscious about getting DNPs. It’s given me more time to get my body right and everything.”
The Clippers believe Zubac deserves the credit for his confidence-raising season, and Harden’s influence is impossible to overlook, too.
Since joining the Clippers via trade in November, Harden has pulled aside Zubac, among others, after every shootaround for around 15 minutes of extra work on pick-and-rolls. It is not unusual for Harden to summon or shift Zubac screens with just a glance. Zubac is shooting 58% on attempts taken after a pass from Harden.
Harden and backup guard Russell Westbrook “are always looking for you and they kind of play old school like, they’re gonna reward their big, they’re gonna hit them on a roll, they’re gonna hit them on a deep seal, hit them in the dunker, and I love playing with guys like that,” Zubac said. “I really appreciate it. We work on it. We work on that two-man game almost after every shootaround. It’s been worthwhile for us.”
Sports
Josh Allen reflects on growth he’s made since joining Bills and becoming expectant father
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has had a terrific 2025.
He and his wife, actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld, got married in June and last week he announced the two were expecting their first child together. Not to mention, he started the year being awarded the NFL MVP trophy.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Allen expressed some appreciation for how he’s grown as a person since he arrived in Buffalo in 2018 as his life took him from a small town in California to Wyoming to the NFL and on the brink of leading a championship-starved city to a Super Bowl appearance.
“Yeah, I guess it’s like the evolution of life,” he said Wednesday. “I consider this place my home. It’s where I’ve done a lot of growing up. And it’s a place that I’ll raise a family. It’s really cool.”
As his work-life balance becomes more rigid, The Associated Press noted a curious comment he made in October during “Monday Night Football.” He was asked what Steinfeld has taught him during their relationship. He responded, “Maybe I am more than a football player.”
Allen confirmed to The Associated Press that Steinfeld’s pregnancy factored into his response.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
“Overjoyed, absolutely overjoyed,” he said, while confirming that he knew he was going to be a dad before the ESPN interview occurred.
Allen is a three-time Pro Bowler and coming off an MVP season. While he’s done more than enough to warrant talk of back-to-back MVPs, Allen shook that notion off going into Week 16.
“I’m just trying to do my job, just trying to find a way to get in the playoffs here,” he said.
Beating the New England Patriots last week after being down 21 points was a good first step. Buffalo has had ups and downs all season long but the team seems to be hitting its stride now with four wins in their last five games.
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Buffalo will go up against the Cleveland Browns on the road on Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
NFL Week 16 picks: Rams defeat Seahawks; Broncos edge Jaguars
Sunday, 10 a.m. TV: CBS, Paramount+.
Line: Bills by 10½. O/U: 41½.
After an amazing comeback against a really strong New England team last Sunday, the Bills are emboldened and Josh Allen is on an MVP pace. Cleveland relies on its stout defense, but that unit didn’t show up in Week 15 against Chicago, surrendering 31 points. Buffalo, which is 7-2 outside the division, wins this going away.
Pick: Bills 27, Browns 16
Sports
Heisman Trophy voter blasts Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia for F-bomb remark in fiery column: ‘Punk move’
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One Heisman Trophy voter isn’t staying silent after seeing Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s message about finishing second over the weekend to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News, who has a Heisman vote, wrote a piece this week about Pavia saying “F— all the voters” after finishing a distant second behind Mendoza. Pavia wrote it in the caption of an Instagram story post with a picture of his Commodores teammates.
While Pavia apologized for his initial response to the loss in New York City, Goodbread wasn’t impressed by what Pavia had to say.
Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores poses with the Heisman Memorial Trophy before the 2025 Heisman Trophy presentation at Marriott Marquis Hotel Dec. 13, 2025, in New York City. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
“He’s a big boy now,” Goodbread wrote in his column. “Old enough to have more than one college degree. Old enough to beat the NCAA in court to gain extra eligibility, and old enough to make the pile of NIL money that came with that. Old enough to know better. And old enough to handle some criticism.
“It was a punk move, Diego. This voter wasn’t sitting right next to Mendoza Saturday night, but my congrats for him are at least genuine.”
Goodbread added that Pavia’s behavior was “jackassery,” saying, “After 6 years in college, you’d think Pavia would’ve signed up for at least one course in humility by now.”
DIEGO PAVIA KNOWS EXPLICIT OUTBURST AGAINST HEISMAN VOTERS WAS ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ VANDERBILT AD SAYS
Mendoza finished with 643 first-place votes to Pavia’s 189.
The Vanderbilt athletic director released a statement on Monday after Pavia’s comment.
“Diego knows his actions were unacceptable, and he has apologized,” athletic director Candice Lee said in a statement to The Tennessean Monday. “I know he is contrite and regrets the hurt he caused. He is a passionate and authentic competitor, and while his authenticity has been nurtured and celebrated here, it does not change the responsibility that comes with representing Vanderbilt University.
“We believe in growth and accountability, and we will continue to support Diego as he learns from this moment.”
Pavia later apologized for his comments on X.
Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores warms up before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium Nov. 29, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
“I didn’t handle those emotions well at all and did not represent myself the way I wanted to,” he wrote in a statement. “I have much love and respect for the Heisman voters and the selection process, and I apologize for being disrespectful. It was a mistake, and I am sorry.
“Fernando Mendoza is an elite competitor and a deserving winner of the award. I have nothing but respect for his accomplishments as well as the success that Jeremiyah [Love] and Julian [Sayin] had this season. I’ve been doubted my whole life,” he wrote.
“Every step of my journey I’ve had to break down doors and fight for myself, because Ive learned that nothing would be handed to me. My family has always been in my corner, and my teammates, coaches and staff have my six. I love them — I am grateful for them. — and I wouldn’t want anything to distract from that. I look forward to competing in front of my family and with my team one more time in the ReliaQuest Bowl.”
Pavia, playing in his second season at Vanderbilt after starting at New Mexico State, led the SEC with a 71.2% completion rate with 27 touchdowns, 3,192 yards passing and nine rushing scores. He rushed for 826 yards on 152 attempts.
Pavia’s reaction to the voting results wasn’t much of a shock, though. He has always been self-confident to the point he kept telling voters to send him to New York City because he felt he deserved the Heisman.
Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws to an open teammate against South Carolina Gamecocks during the first half at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 9, 2024. (Imagn)
“The Heisman Trophy winner goes to the best player in college football,” Pavia said on OutKick’s “Hot Mic.” “I believe that to be myself. You check the numbers, and especially — there’s two things that don’t lie to you: Numbers and tape. I’ve been taught that since I was young. You go check that out. I feel like I’m undoubtedly the best player in college football.”
Vanderbilt had a 10-2 record on the year, ranking No. 14 nationally at the end of the regular season.
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