Thunder rule Ibaka out for remainder of regular season

If Oklahoma City Thunder fans held out any hope that Serge Ibaka could return for the final week of the regular season, head coach Scott Brooks eliminated that possibility before Sunday's game against the Indiana Pacers.

The only way Ibaka will get into another game this season is if the Thunder outlast the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth and final Western Conference spot, and even his postseason availability hasn't been guaranteed.

Ibaka was ruled out for four-to-six weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery March 17, which left a very faint possibility that the star big man could return in time for the team's last regular season game or two.

The Thunder enter Sunday needing a combination of four wins plus Pelicans losses over the final three games to qualify for the postseason.

Ibaka averaged 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in somewhat of a statistical down year for the 25-year-old.

The Thunder, of course, are also without reigning MVP Kevin Durant, who underwent a season-ending third surgery on his right foot last month.