The Oklahoma City Thunder will play its Western Conference Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs without star power forward Serge Ibaka.

Ibaka injured his calf during the third quarter of the Thunder’s 104-98 series clinching victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. He left for the locker room soon after and did not return.

This news comes as a blow to OKC who had relied on Ibaka for his defense against high-powered post players thus far in these NBA Playoffs. In round one, Ibaka was charged with guarding Zach Randolph of the Memphis Grizzlies, and most recently he was saddled with checking the Clippers’ Blake Griffin.

“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,” said Thunder GM Sam Presti in a statement released by the team on Friday. “At this point it is important that our team directs its concentration and energy towards preparation and execution for our upcoming series.

Aside from defense, Ibaka, who finished fourth in NBA Defensive player of the year voting, has been an offensive force for Okalhoma City as well. Through 13 playoff games, Ibaka has poured in an average of 12.32 points per game, and has been an outlet for both Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

The injury to Ibaka marks the second consecutive season that a Thunder starter has been knocked out of the playoffs due to injury. Last season, OKC lost Westbrook to an injured knee in its first round series with the Houston Rockets. Westbrook missed time this season after aggravating the same knee.

While the news of Ibaka’s injury radiates throughout the league, the Thunder can take some solace in the playoff rise of rookie Steven Adams, who has played superbly in limited minutes throught OKC’s first two series. On Thursday, Adams filled in nicely for Ibaka, scoring 10 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in 40 minutes of court time.

However, even with Adams filling in, Ibaka’s role will be difficult to fill. A stout defender, Ibaka would have been matched up with either Tim Duncan or Tiago Splitter of the Spurs on any given possession. On the offensive end, Ibaka provided OKC with an outside scoring threat that neither Adams nor center Kendrick Perkins could provide. Even if Thunder coach Scott Brooks chooses to slide Durant into the power forward position, it would be difficult ask the slender MVP to absorb physical play inside while maintaining his ability to make plays on the offensive end.

The Thunder will perhaps look to platoon the power forward position with little-used big men Hasheem Thabeet and Perry Jones, neither of whom have seen any significant time in these playoffs. Veteran Nick Collison stands to see increased minutes as well.

Neither team in the Western Conference Finals will be at full strength. San Antonio faces injury news of its own, as guard Tony Parker deals with an injured hamstring that kept him out of much of the Spurs’ series clinching win over the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday.

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