Kendrick Perkins (hip) exits game

Updated: May 5, 2012, 8:46 PM ET
By Jeff Caplan | ESPNDallas.com

DALLAS -- Oklahoma City Thunder starting center Kendrick Perkins will miss the remainder of Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks Saturday after leaving in the first quarter with a right hip strain.

The Thunder are trying to close out the defending champions in a sweep.

It's not clear when the 6-foot-10, 270-pounder injured his hip and there was no early word as to how severe the injury might be. If the Mavs win Saturday, the series will shift back to Oklahoma City on Monday for Game 5.

If the Thunder close it out, they will await the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Denver Nuggets series.

Perkins averaged 5.0 points and 7.7 rebounds in 27.7 minutes in the first three games and was a strong defensive presence in the paint. He left Game 4 with two rebounds and two assists in 7:51.

Oklahoma City has received little production from backup center Nick Collison in the series, and Nazr Mohammed has played just five minutes of garbage time in OKC's Game 3 blowout.

SPONSORED HEADLINES

EDITORS' PICKS

  • Easy Does It
    The Rangers got an easy win against the Mariners on Friday night.
  • Forward March
    Play has resumed at Colonial, with Graham DeLaet currently sitting atop the leaderboard.
  • He Loves L.A.?
    How much does Chris Paul value his legacy as being guy who turned around Clippers?
  • Call Waiting
    With his fate at stake, here's betting Jason Garrett will call plays for the Cowboys.
  • The Running Man
    Dez Bryant wants to follow Michael Irvin's footsteps and be "able to run all day."

ALSO SEE