Kendrick Perkins to start Game 1

Kendrick Perkins will be in his normal spot starting Game 1 for the Thunder against the Lakers.

He was listed as a gametime decision.

Perkins suffered a strained right hip injury in Game 4 against the Mavericks, leaving the game in the first quarter and not returning. He was listed as day to day following the injury, but with the Thunder having nine days off while the Lakers went to seven games with the Nuggets, Perkins was able to heal.

Scott Brooks said Perkins won’t have any minute restrictions or limits, instead playing in his normal rotation.

Perkins is a vital part to the series for the Thunder as the Lakers have Andrew Bynum at center, a player the Perkins has defended extremely well in the past both during his time in Oklahoma City and with the Boston Celtics.