Despite weeks of sitting on the sidelines as a healthy scratch, Los Angeles Clippers big man Serge Ibaka stayed ready in case his name was called upon. During Wednesday night's matchup against the Sacramento Kings, head coach Tyronn Lue entrusted Ibaka with big second-unit minutes, and he did not disappoint.

Ibaka finished with 17 points, five rebounds, and a steal in 20 very effective minutes off the Clippers' bench. Isaiah Hartenstein has missed two straight games due to a an ankle sprain, giving Serge Ibaka ample opportunity to get some run and regain any trust that may have been lost.

“I thought Serge was great,”Tyronn Lue said after the game. Making two 3s, I thought on the offensive glass, finishing at the rim, and defensively, challenging Tristan’s floaters at the basket, really gave Tristan a hard time down there. And the one he did deflect and block, Tristan made it. I thought Serge’s presence was big and huge off the bench and definitely anchored the defense on that second unit.”

Ibaka played Tuesday night against the Kings and against the Thunder on Monday, but missed the five games prior due to a coach's decision. It wasn't just Ibaka who dealt with being in and out of the lineup, however.

Wednesday marked the Clippers' 11th different starting lineup of the season and eighth different starting unit in the last 11 games. They've had multiple key rotation players miss significant time. Transition and adaptability have been at the forefront of Tyronn Lue's messages to his Clippers.

Still, that hasn't made it easier for the Clippers big man to deal with.

“I mean, I’m going to be honest with you, as a human being it can be frustrating,” Serge Ibaka said after arguably his best game of the year. “As a coach, he tries to do his best he can to keep the team together, to keep the team playing the best basketball you can. As a player, a hard worker, someone who loves basketball like me, I want to play too.

“At the same time, it can be really frustrating between that, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop being professional. I have to be professional and I have to be there. At the end of the day I’m still blessed, man. If I’m not playing, even when I went to go play in the G League, my checks still come in. That’s blessed. So, like I said, it is what it is. No matter what the situation is, I want to keep working, I’m going keep being professional and stay ready. That’s all I can control.”

The Clippers big man, now a 12-year NBA veteran, has leaned into the professionalism more of late, allowing himself to count his blessings.

“I mean, you know, like you said, it has been a very strange month for me. It helped me to be stronger. All I can do is to keep working and stay ready. That’s the only thing I can control. That’s the only thing in my power, in my hands, is to keep working and keep being professional and stay ready.

“Like I said, all I can control is to keep doing what I can control, keep working. It is what it is, man, you know?”

Ibaka and the Clippers will have three days off for the Christmas holiday before facing the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night, the team's third five-in-seven set of the season.