OKC Thunder: Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka power Thunder past Spurs to tie series

Serge Ibaka scored a playoff career-high 26 points to help the Thunder even the Western Conference Finals at two games apiece with a 109-103 win in Game 4.

By Darnell Mayberry | Published: June 2, 2012 Comment on this article

Multimedia

Videoview all videos

Thunder Serges as KD closes out Spurs

Jun 3Kevin Durant scored 18 points in the fourth quarter and...

Game 4 Analysis: Thunder-Spurs

Jun 3Berry Tramel and Jenni Carlson examine how Kevin Durant's...

Photoview all 45 photos

Article Gallery: OKC Thunder: Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka power Thunder past Spurs to tie series

NewsOK Related Articles

Thunder-Spurs remote patrol: TNT's Reggie Miller appreciates Kevin Durant's performance
06/02/2012 TNT analyst and former NBA star Reggie Miller appreciates how Kevin Durant took over in the fourth quarter of Game 4.
Thunder-Spurs Q&A: San Antonio's Manu Ginobili talks about trying to stop Kevin Durant
06/02/2012 Ginobili: OKC's Kevin Durant hard to contain
OKC Thunder: Suddenly, the Thunder has the Spurs' attention
06/02/2012 Manu Ginobili said: “It's, of course, a great challenge. We are playing against a really talented team.”
Thunder-Spurs seems like a whole new series
06/02/2012 Remember when this series seemed all but lost, OKC fans? The Thunder returns to San Antonio with the series tied at 2.
OKC Thunder notebook: Limited supply of Game 6 tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday
06/02/2012 Game 6 at Chesapeake Arena will start at 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Thunder-Spurs: Kevin Durant stars as Thunder ties up series
06/02/2012 Kevin Durant added another chapter to his ever-expanding legacy with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
OKC Thunder: By the numbers for Thunder's Game 4 victory over San Antonio
06/02/2012 The Thunder has averaged 105 points over the last four games.
OKC Thunder Game 4 report card: Kendrick Perkins' offense gets an 'A'
06/02/2012 Staff writer Berry Tramel gives Oklahoma City's big men an A for perimeter shooting.
OKC Thunder Bandwagon: Ryan Seacrest, Dallas RB Felix Jones spotted
06/02/2012 Wasn't all that long ago that Thunder fans were down in the dumps about this series. Not anymore. The Peake was rocking for Game 4, and so was the Thunder.
NBA playoffs: Game dates and game times for NBA Finals announced by league
06/02/2012 Western Conference champion — either Oklahoma City or San Antonio — would host Games 1 and 2. Game 1 is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 12.
Thunder-Spurs: Lil Wayne says he feels 'unwanted' at Oklahoma City arena
06/02/2012 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lil Wayne said that after a recent NBA playoffs ticket dispute he felt unwelcome and “unwanted” at the Oklahoma City arena and...

tering Game 4, Ibaka was just 9-for-23 from the field.

“It's a great impact,” said Westbrook of Ibaka hitting midrange shots. “Serge continuously knocked those shots down in the first three quarters. Then, when it was time for Kevin (Durant) to (isolate) and give us what he needs, he has a lot of space. That just shows the commitment that we're making the right play and it worked for us.”

Ibaka finished with 12 points in the second period, making all five of his shots. In the third quarter, Ibaka scored eight points on 3-for-3 shooting. He needed just four points, on 2-for-2 shooting, in the final period thanks to Durant's 18-point barrage, which included 16 straight to carry the Thunder across the finish line.

“Eleven-for-eleven in Game 4 of the conference finals is not easy to do,” said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. “I understand if he runs the floor for transition dunks or (scores) on drop-offs when we help. That can happen. But he made five to six jumpers, and that's something we were willing to give up. But he was impressive today.”

Ibaka benefited from unselfish ball movement that saw the Thunder tie its season high of 27 assists.

With each shot that swished through the net, Ibaka grew more and more confident.

“After making my (first two) shots I was like, ‘OK, I'll just keep going,’ ” Ibaka said. “Every time I was open they kept passing to me and I shot the ball.”

And never missed.

Page 2 of 2