Clippers’ Brook Lopez all about staying ready

LOS ANGELES — Clippers center Brook Lopez started the season coming off the bench, seeing little time behind starting center Ivica Zubac, his minutes hovering in the 15- to 17-minute range.

Lopez logged just six minutes in a loss at the Orlando Magic in November and then found himself out of the rotation altogether for stretches this season.

His role expanded when Zubac sprained his left ankle when he inadvertently stepped on Lebron James’ foot in December, giving Lopez a shot at being a starter again.