LOS ANGELES – Ivica Zubac and the L.A. Clippers inched closer to a playoff spot on Sunday afternoon when they defeated the New York Knicks. The win gave them a 36-29 record, setting up a crucial matchup on Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, who sit behind them at 30-33.

Monday night will present Zubac with his first opportunity to face his former team since the trade deadline deal sent him across the hallway. Zubac has been a big part of the Clippers’ post-All-Star run as they look to make the playoffs.

“I can’t wait,” said Zubac after Sunday’s victory. “I’m motivated, they’re a dangerous team, they’re fighting for playoffs and this is the big game, one of the biggest games of the season for them, so we gotta come out ready, focused. We gotta play smart, we gotta know what we want to do, take away their things and we’ll be good.”

The Clippers sent Mike Muscala, who they acquired in the Tobias Harris trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, to the Lakers for Zubac. Since then, the Lakers have lost six of the nine games without him. The Clippers, on the other hand, have won five of their eight games with Zubac.

“I’ve been watching almost every game,” admitted Zubac when asked if he pays attention to the Lakers. “I feel like every time I watch them, I’m like, ‘Damn, if I was there, I would help them. I would definitely make a difference on the floor, you know, but they’re not my team anymore, so…”

Even more surprising about the post-trade deadline Lakers is the fact that they’ve lost to the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, and Anthony Davis-less Pelicans.

As of right now, it appears that winning games you’re supposed to against lower tier opponents might be the difference between making and missing the playoffs for these two teams. The Clippers defeated the Knicks handily, 128-107, while the Lakers just took a bad road loss to the Suns. After the game, Zubac didn’t hold back on the difference between L.A.’s two teams.

“When I was with the Lakers, we didn’t have nights like this,” Zubac said. “Every game was a close game for us, but now with the Clippers, this team is really locked in, every possession against every team, you know, the guys are all looking to take care of business and we’re ready for the next game.

“It’s great, that’s how we gotta be.”

Muscala has averaged just 3.2 points per game, 0.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 1.0 block per game on 35.3 percent shooting from the field in 10 minutes per game. He’s totaled 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, and five blocks in 50 minutes of action.

Zubac on the other hand, has averaged 8.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.0 block per game on 46.6 percent shooting in 19.4 minutes per game across eight games. He’s totaled 70 points, 58 rebounds, 12 assists, and 8 blocks in 155 minutes.

“You know, they are my guys, they will always be my friends and it’s tough to see them lose, but them losing is good for us, so that’s how it works.”

As far as predictions go for Monday night’s big game against the Lakers, Zubac wouldn’t oblige a reporter with an answer, but he did say he has a leg up on them.

“I don’t want to give any predictions,” Zubac said with a smile. “That’s not a smart thing to do, but I’ll be motivated.

“We’ve been going at it every practice when I was there, so you know, I know how to play against them, I know how to make them work and I’ll be just happy to play the Lakers for the first time in my career.”