Serge Ibaka expected to miss rest of playoffs

The Oklahoma City Thunder have announced that Serge Ibaka is likely to miss the rest of the playoffs after picking up a calf injury.

The power forward sustained the grade two plantaris strain in his left leg during the team's series-clinching win over the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this week.

The team's general manager Sam Presti told reporters: "I just want to express our disappointment for Serge, who, as we all know, is an elite competitor and someone that has proven to be a tremendous teammate. He was playing great basketball throughout the season. He's had a huge impact on our season to date.

"We have had this group together for a while, and they've been through some ups and downs, and this is just another one that hopefully is only going to make us better

"For us, we as an organisation have been in some situations in the past, and how we respond to those has always been the measure of the teams that we've had in Oklahoma City. Our expectation going forward is that we'll respond admirably."

Ibaka had been averaging 12.2 points per game during the playoffs.