After missing the first two games of the NBA Western Conference Finals, Serge Ibaka returned in game three to help seal a victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was the Thunder’s first victory of the series in which they face a tough opponent in the San Antonio Spurs.
While suffering what appeared to be a season ending left calf strain in game six of the Western Conference Semi-Finals against the Los Angeles Clippers, no one expected Ibaka to return to action so soon. However, his presence was felt scoring 15 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and playing great defense adding four blocks according to ESPN.
Ibaka gave his superstar teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook a well needed third weal to propel a win in a tough battle against a team that went to the finals just a year ago. Energy was with the team that was not there in the first two games. The Thunder plays their next playoff game on May 27.
"Serge has put so much work in throughout the season that missing a couple of days didn't hurt him. Tonight, he jumped right back into where he was," said Westbrook, Thunder teammate, reported by New York Daily News.