The hits just keep on coming for the Oklahoma City Thunder as forward Serge Ibaka could end up missing the rest of the season after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti said the procedure was done to shave off damaged cartilage under the rim protector's kneecap, which had caused Ibaka substantial discomfort and swelling that started in late February according to the AP report.

Presti said that the timetable for recovery is currently set at four to six weeks.

The Thunder are in the midst of a tight race for the final playoff spot in the West with the New Orleans. They are (as of this writing) tied in the win-loss column at 37-30, but the Pelicans own the tiebreaker. The playoffs begin on April 18, which could mean Ibaka is done for the season if they don't make it to the playoffs, or deep into the first round.

The sweet shooting forward played through the discomfort before missing the last three games. The swelling in the knee stiffened the leg and limited Ibaka's movement. Presti said they tried other means of dealing with the issue"”medication, rest, modified practice, as well as removing fluid from the knee"”but had no other recourse to fully deal with the situation than to undergo surgery.

"No long-term concerns with regard to anything structural with his knee. Obviously, a setback in terms of timing, but the long-term health of the player and the ability to play at a high level during the season is the most important thing," Presti said.

In last year's playoff matchup with the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs, Ibaka also missed the first two games of the series before coming back to tie the series at two games apiece.

For the season, Ibaka is averaging 14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks in 64 games for the Thunder.