God, ice and the "TLC" of girlfriend and singer Keri Hilson is being credited with getting the Oklahoma City Thunder star forward Serge Ibaka back in shape to return from a calf injury previously thought to have ended his season.
And as a result of Ibaka's miraculous Game 3 return and Oklahoma City's 106-97 Sunday night win over San Antonio, the Thunder now find themselves back in the thick of the Western Conference finals, a series many had also long concluded was over.
"God & ice." -@GaryKGoldman ⚡️⚡️⚡️
— Keri Hilson (@KeriHilson) May 26, 2014
"I believe in God, and I believe in miracles, and I believe that everything is possible," a still emotionally-charged Ibaka told USA TODAY Sports after the win. "When I did the MRI and the MRI showed us that I was really bleeding a lot, but I said, 'I just want to keep believing, man.'
Ibaka finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 30 minutes, but more than anything he made his teammates believe again.
Russell Westbrook finished with 26 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Kevin Durant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, as four Thunder players scored in double-figures in notching the win.
Serge Ibaka, Keri Hilson break up?
"As soon as I heard, I didn't feel comfortable being anywhere else," said Hilson. "Even though he didn't say it, I knew he needed me. I needed to do anything I could to put a smile on his face. I do the TLC and cook a little bit. Racina (sister) was as much his nurse as I was. We had to be there for him."
It's that same attitude Ibaka took to the court with him on Sunday night with his Thunder teammates not only down 2-0 in the series, but having lost the first two games by a combined 52 points.
"I was so proud," added Hilson. "When he was crying here on the bench - I believe he was crying - I was crying too. It was emotional because I saw how just yesterday and the day before yesterday he was on crutches. I know he played through pain, I don't know how he did it, but he did it."
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