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Thunder lose injured Ibaka for rest of playoffs
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the Western Conference finals next week against the San Antonio Spurs a man down.
Forward Serge Ibaka is expected to sit out the remainder of the NBA playoffs after suffering a calf injury during the third quarter of the Thunder’s series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night in Los Angeles.
Ibaka underwent an MRI on Friday on his left calf that confirmed the injury. He was averaging 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in 13 postseason games.
Ibaka also led the league in blocks during the regular season for the fourth straight time with 219 and had averaged a career-high 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.
His loss will be a blow to a team that has struggled at times in the playoffs for scorers other than NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant and guard Russell Westbrook.
“We are obviously disappointed for Serge, as he is a tremendous competitor, and we know how badly he wants to be on the court with his teammates,” Thunder executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti said.
“At this point, it is important that our team directs its concentration and energy towards preparation and execution for our upcoming series. As with all teams, our group has confronted different challenges. It is our collective experience that we will call on to ensure that we play to our capabilities.”
Game 1 is set for Monday night between the Thunder and Spurs.
