During Game 1 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder may have suffered a big blow with an injury to defensive-minded center Kendrick Perkins.
After Perkins went up for an uncontested dunk, the veteran big man came down in obvious pain. Apparently, Perkins re-aggravated an injury to his hip and as a result missed Tuesday’s practice.
According to Thunder Coach Scott Brooks, Perkins will be game-time decision for Game 2 via J.A. Adande of ESPN.com:
“If he’s ready to go he’ll play,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “If he’s not, we won’t play him. But we’ll see how he feels. We have all day tomorrow. We have treatments today, treatments tomorrow and he’ll be a game-time decision.”
The absence of Perkins might prove to be a big advantage for the Lakers inside the paint in Game 2. Even though Perkins didn’t have a huge impact in Game 1 with four points, one rebound and two blocks, the one-time NBA champion is the best defender the Thunder has to throw at Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in the paint.
With that being said, Gasol and Bynum might be in for a big night in Game 2 that could prove to be the difference against a much more talented and motivated Thunder squad.
