Brook

Lopez

While Isaiah Jackson (six points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block in 28 minutes) earned the starting center role, his limited offensive skill set means Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue will continue to factor Lopez into his plans. Against the Lakers, the 7-foot-1 backup scored 15 points on 6-of-6 shooting in the first half on Friday. Lopez’s production tailed off after halftime, but his final line reminded everyone what he can do, even in a backup role.

Despite coming off the bench, Lopez played 27 minutes on Wednesday due to starting center Isaiah Jackson getting into foul trouble. The veteran 7-footer clearly still has something left in the tank, as he recorded a complete stat line that included a double-double. Jackson still hasn’t established himself as a center you can fully trust in fantasy basketball, which is a good reason to roster Lopez in deep leagues.

Jackson was the starter throughout the preseason, so Saturday’s news is not a complete surprise. However, the confirmation makes him an even better option for fantasy managers who need a center in the later rounds of their drafts. Brook Lopez will be the backup, and that limits his fantasy value considerably.

Wednesday’s game was the Clippers’ last preseason game, so it’s fair to question how much of a “dress rehearsal” it was for Tyronn Lue’s team. Jackson started again and played 26 minutes, while veteran Brook Lopez (nine points, two rebounds, one assist and one three-pointer) logged eight minutes off the bench. If Jackson can lock down the starting job, his upside would make him worthy of late-round consideration in drafts. And even if he doesn’t start, the Clippers will be light on centers until Yanic Konan Niederhäuser is cleared to return from the foot injury that ended his 2025-26 season in March.

Jackson has been sidelined since March 27, but after practicing fully on Tuesday, he is now expected to make his return for the Clippers’ win-or-go-home matchup with the Warriors. He’ll likely occupy some of the backup center minutes behind Brook Lopez.

Collins has reached double figures in three consecutive games, a solid run for a player who totaled 13 points in the three games prior. However, his point total has decreased in each of the Clippers’ last three games. And his production took on added importance when Isaiah Jackson went down with a high ankle sprain. The backup center minutes now belong to Collins, resulting in his and Brook Lopez’s (six points, six rebounds, three assists and one block) minutes being staggered more than before Jackson’s injury. Jackson will be re-evaluated in one week, which means Collins will continue to have added importance.

It has been a largely unproductive season for Lopez, but he has started at center in every game since Ivica Zubac suited up for the last time as a Clipper, and he has been productive, especially recently. He has 16 blocks over his last five games and has scored in double figures in all but one of those. Lopez has provided fifth-round value over the past two weeks, and they’ll need him to stay productive in Thursday’s game against the Spurs.

Lopez displayed the type of floor spacing on Monday that those within the Bucks organization are very familiar with. The veteran center and former champion with the Bucks had a massive impact in the third quarter, when he netted four triples and recorded his only two blocks of the night. Lopez didn’t get a chance to test his hot hand in the fourth quarter because of the huge point differential between the two teams. However, he will look to stay hot against the Raptors on Friday.

With Yanic Konan-Niederhäuser (foot) done for the season, Jackson has moved into the backup center role. The former first-round pick had his best game as a Clipper on Saturday, recording a double-double along with three steals. Jackson played 24 minutes and even started the second half in place of starter Brook Lopez (four points, one rebound). The veteran center only played 12 minutes, and Saturday’s game, being the Clippers’ second in as many nights, may have been a factor. Consistency has been an issue for Jackson throughout his career, but he doesn’t need to play starters’ minutes to provide value. Keep an eye on him during the first two games of the Clippers’ four-game Week 20.

While it occurred in a losing effort, Lopez had one of his best games of the season on Friday. Shooting 7-of-11 from two and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, the veteran center’s 26 points were the most in a game for him since December 26. On that night, Lopez scored a season-high 31 points against the Trail Blazers. With backup center Yanic Konan-Niederhäuser (foot) having suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury during Wednesday’s win over the Pacers, the Clippers will need more from Lopez. On Friday, he played 34 minutes, the fourth time since the All-Star break that the 7-foot-1 center has played at least 30 in a game.