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Ibaka could play Game 3
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
Injured Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka might play Sunday night in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Ibaka, who missed the first two games of the series with a left calf strain, participated in Sunday morning’s shootaround.
The Thunder had said Ibaka would likely miss the rest of the playoffs, but announced Friday he was making significant progress.
Ibaka said Sunday morning was happy to be back on the court practicing and hopes he can play.
“It feels great,” he said. “The first time the doctors told me I would not be able to play in the playoffs, I cried. It was something that I wasn’t really looking for. I always enjoy playing with my teammates and playing basketball.”
Ibaka said the pain has decreased in the past three days and that he will decide later in the day if he can play.
“I tried to get my mind ready, and if I’m going to feel better later, I’m going to go,” he said.
Ibaka is averaging 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots in 13 postseason games. He also led the NBA in blocks during the regular season for the fourth straight season with 219 and averaged a career-high 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.
The Thunder need Ibaka as San Antonio leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.
