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Thunder Vs. Warriors Preview: Kendrick Perkins Talks About His Slump

The Oklahoma City Thunder will visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night. The Thunder will be looking to keep their hot streak rolling, as well as hoping for Kendrick Perkins to break out of his slump.

By Bill Hanstock
Getty Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder will visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night in Oakland. The Thunder continue their impressive run this season as they have now won seven of their last 10 games. They rebounded nicely from a loss to the San Antonio Spurs by winning in overtime on Monday against a tough Portland Trail Blazers team.

Thunder center Kendrick Perkins scored only six points in that overtime effort. According to Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman, Perkins says he feels like he is struggling. The shortened 2011-12 season has so far been one of his worst, statistically. He's currently in the bottom five of all NBA players in rebounds per game. Here's what he had to say about his recent struggles:

I just got to play better. It's not just the rebounding. My points are down. I'm usually one of the league leaders in field-goal percentage. I just got to play better. It's nothing else to it. I just got to play better.

I don't know whether it's my focus or what. But it's on me. I really don't care about the points. But I do worry about picking up my field-goal percentage and my rebounding. I at least need to be at eight a game. So that's unacceptable.

The thing is, I never have been in a slump. This is my first time being in a slump. I just got to find my way. I figure the only thing I can do is go up from here, though.

The Warriors, for their part, have been struggling all season long. They currently hold a record of 8-13 and are 6-7 at home. They've won three of their last five, but are coming off a 114-106 overtime loss to the even-more-miserable Sacramento Kings. OKC and Golden State last met on January 27, when the Thunder came away with the 120-109 victory.

Tuesday night's game will begin at 10:30 PM ET and will be televised on FS-Oklahoma locally. You can listen to the game on WWLS 640 AM.

For all news and information regarding the Oklahoma City Thunder, please visit Welcome to Loud City. For updates and perspective on the Golden State Warriors, head on over to Golden State of Mind.