With just 10 games left in the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder appear to have a strong hold on the final playoff spot in the West, enjoying a 2 ½ game lead (as of this writing) over the eighth place Phoenix Suns.

But in a season filled with them, the team announced Friday, yet another blow to their playoff ambitions, as superstar Kevin Durant has been removed from all basketball activities due to persistent soreness in his surgically repaired right foot, as reported by Yahoo Sports.

"He's not making the progress we had hoped. I would say out indefinitely," Thunder general manager Sam Presti told reporters.

"As difficult of a decision as there is, I think for Kevin, just because I know how competitive he is and he wants to be on the floor, we have to do the right thing here. I am making sure that all the information is being assessed accurately and then we are going to determine what is going to put him in the best decision to go forward as a basketball player," he added.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks declined to comment on a timetable for his star's return.

The All-Star forward has played in only 27 games for the Thunder this season after incurring a Jones fracture in the offseason. He initially had surgery on Oct. 16, but had to undergo a second procedure on the same foot to replace a screw on Feb. 22.

Despite supernova Russell Westbrook's incredible play, the Thunder are facing an extremely difficult proposition should they hang on to the eighth seed, with Serge Ibaka already out four to six weeks due to a right knee injury.

When Presti asked if Durant is being shut down for the season he replied, "Essentially, that's the direction we're headed right now."

The Thunder have had to battle in the playoffs the past three seasons with major injuries to their core of Westbrook, Ibaka, and Durant.