The Thunder left it all on the court yesterday but they just weren’t good enough to beat the Lakers. Russell Westbrook (22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists) and Kevin Durant (21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocked shots) led the way for the Thunder yesterday. James Harden filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals in 28 minutes off the bench. Thabo Sefolosha pitched in with 10 points in 25 minutes in this game. The Thunder are now 36-22 on the year.

Newly acquired center Kendrick Perkins is going to miss the next 2-3 weeks due to a sprained MCL. This is a bad break for the Thunder but they still have Nazr Mohammed and Nick Collison to hold the fort until Perkins is ready to return to action. This would have been a big blow if the Thunder hadn’t picked up Mohammed in a deal at the trade deadline which makes me think that they knew Perkins was going to miss some time.

The Thunder only shot 33.3% from the floor last night and they were outrebounded 53-46 so the final score shouldn’t shock anyone. The Thunder could have used their new centers last night as Dwight Howard dropped 40 points and 15 rebounds on them in this game. Kevin Durant led the way for the Thunder last night with 23 points, 16 rebounds and 2 assists. Russell Westbrook pitched in with 18 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists last night. James Harden (16 points) and Daequan Cook (15 points) pitched in offensively off the bench in this game. The Thunder are now 36-21 on the year.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have acquired 33-year old center Nazr Mohammed from the Charlotte Bobcats for 24-year old power forward D.J. White and 33-year old small forward Morris Peterson. Mohammed played in 51 games (30 starts) for the Bobcats this season and he averaged 16.7 minutes, 7.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. He has now played in 747 games (333 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 17.9 minutes, 6.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Mohammed will back up Kendrick Perkins at center the rest of the season and I think he will do a good job.

D.J. White played in 23 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this season and he averaged 9.5 minutes, 2.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. White played in 42 games (0 starts) in three years with the Thunder and he averaged 10.7 minutes, 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game on 51.9% shooting from the floor. Mo Peterson has played in 4 games (0 starts) for the Thunder this season and he averaged 5.8 minutes, 1.0 point, 0.8 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

I really like this deal for the Bobcats who are pushing all of their chips to the middle of the table.

The Thunder have acquired 26-year old center Kendrick Perkins and 26-year old guard Nate Robinson from the Celtics for 24-year old power forward Jeff Green and 27-year old center Nenad Krstic. Perkins played in 12 games (7 starts) for the Celtics this season and he averaged 26.1 minutes, 7.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He has now played in 454 games (335 starts) in his first 8 years in the NBA and he is averaging 22.3 minutes, 6.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Perkins will move right into the starting lineup at center to add toughness and rebounding. Nate Robinson will provide instant offense off the bench. He played in 55 games (11 starts) for the Celtics this season and he was averaging 17.9 minutes, 7.1 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Robinson has now played in 393 games (72 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 23.1 minutes, 11.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Jeff Green played in 49 games (all starts) for the Thunder this season and he is averaging 37.0 minutes, 15.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Green played in 289 games (261 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 34.5 minutes, 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Green is what he is, a decent offensive player who’s not a tough guy under the basket which is what the Thunder really need out of their power forward. Serge Ibaka will replace him in the starting lineup and the Thunder will be better for it. Nenad Krstic played in 47 games (all starts) for the Thunder this season and he was averaging 21.7 minutes, 7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. Krstic played in 169 games (152 starts) in his three years with the Thunder and he averaged 23.1 minutes, 8.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.

I really like this trade for the Thunder as Perkins is going to give them a tough guy at center to team with new starter Serge Ibaka at power forward.