Ibaka may play in Game 3

Oklahoma City (AP) — Thunder forward Serge Ibaka could play in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals Sunday night after taking part in the team's morning shootaround.

Ibaka has missed the first two games of the series against the San Antonio Spurs with a left calf strain. The Thunder had said he likely would miss the rest of the playoffs, but changed course Friday.

Ibaka said Sunday morning the pain started to subside in the past three days. He'll decide later in the day whether he can play Sunday night.

"I tried to get my mind ready, and if I'm going to feel better later, I'm going to go," he said.

With Ibaka, the league's leading shot blocker, the Thunder were one of the best defensive teams in the NBA. Without him, San Antonio shot at least 50 percent in the first two games and won them by a combined 52 points. The Spurs have said all along that they expected him to return during the series.

Ibaka was glad to be out on the practice court, and he appreciates the fact that playing is even a possibility.

"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."

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by Cliff Brunt, AP Sports Writer

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – May 25, 2014 @ 12:10pm