Kevin Durant is still sidelined. Russell Westbrook has missed 15 games. And the Oklahoma City Thunder’s third-best player is about to go under the knife.
According to ESPN’s Royce Young, Serge Ibaka will have a procedure to alleviate nagging soreness in his right knee.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka will undergo a knee procedure to address some persistent soreness, sources told ESPN.com.
It is not clear how long Ibaka will be sidelined following the surgery.
Ibaka has missed the Thunder’s past two games with what the team has called knee soreness. He will see a specialist for further evaluation, with the expectation for him to have a clean-out procedure in order to be ready for the postseason.
Key to Young’s report is that Ibaka is undergoing surgery “in order to be ready for the postseason.” Essentially, this is a procedure that seems more likely ti sideline him for weeks than months.
The problem for Oklahoma City, though, is that time may be running out on its season. The Thunder lead the New Orleans Pelicans by just a game for eighth-place in the Western Conference, and Anthony Davis and company show no signs of bowing out from the playoff race anytime soon.
The Brow continued his utter dominance during last night’s overtime loss to the Denver Nuggets, Tyreke Evans is playing better than he has in years, and Eric Gordon is shooting the lights out from deep. If Monty Williams can get his team to buckle down defensively during the season’s final month, it’s hardly inconceivable that New Orleans could usurp a short-handed Oklahoma City – despite the latter holding a schedule advantage.
The acquisition of Enes Kanter and development of Mitch McGary loom especially large for the Thunder now, but neither comes close to replicating Ibaka’s supreme defensive impact. Will Westbrook alone be able to outscore opponents? We’re dubious, which makes the timeline of Durant’s return ever important.
It was just last Thursday when Scott Brooks said the reigning MVP would play “in a week or two.” For Oklahoma City’s sake, here’s hoping Durant re-appears in the next few days. Westbrook is absolutely brilliant, but we doubt he can hold off Davis and the Pelicans mostly by himself.
We’ll keep you updated as news on Ibaka’s status becomes available.
[ESPN]
