How Keri Hilson helped Serge Ibaka return for the Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka told Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports that he believes that anything is possible.

A troublesome MRI on Ibaka's calf sidelined him through the first two games of the Western Conference Finals, but his resilient return Sunday for a Game 3 victory was fueled by God, ice and Keri Hilson.

The singer, Ibaka's significant other for the last two years, teamed up with his sister Rachina to help the Thunder forward recover from an injury that was supposed to keep him out of the playoffs altogether.

Hilson flew to Oklahoma City from Atlanta days after Ibaka was injured on May 15.

"As soon as I heard, I didn't feel comfortable being anywhere else," Hilson told USA TODAY. "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. He didn't have a smile on his face all week. 

"It was very hard. It was really hard. He's one of the most dedicated people I've ever seen in any field, one of the most dedicated people I've ever been able to witness. (Rachina) was as much his nurse as I was. She cooks. I do the TLC and cook a little bit. We had to be there for him."

Ibaka's performance - 15 points, seven boards, four blocks in 30 minutes - was as gutsy as they come. He didn't want to let his teammates down.

"Yeah, it was a very special game. A very special game. It showed me that God loves me," Ibaka said. "He really heard my prayer, because normally this kind of injury to get back to play you need to wait like maybe four weeks. This took me 10 days. It's a miracle, man believe me."