Oklahoma City Thunder: Kendrick Perkins expected to start Sunday against Atlanta

“He should (start), yeah,” OKC coach Scott Brooks said after Saturday's film session and light workout. “We'll see how he feels (Sunday). It wasn't as bad as I initially thought. He's feeling much better today than I thought he would.”

The Hawks are coming off a 109-102 season-opening loss at home to Houston on Friday when former Thunder sixth man James Harden scored a career-high 45 points.

“It's definitely a new team,” Brooks said of Atlanta. “They're a fast team. A lot of times they play two point guards at the same time with Devin Harris and Jeff Teague. They get in transition and try to score early. … It's a team we really have to respect. They're athletic and they're fast and they like to score.”

KEVIN DURANT'S FAMILY IN MARYLAND SAFE FROM ‘SANDY'

Thunder All-Star forward Kevin Durant was born in Washington D.C., raised in neighboring Maryland and still has several family members in the area, all of whom escaped the wrath of Superstorm Sandy that devastated the northeast last week.

“I didn't really hit Maryland,” Durant said. “I was checking in with grandmother and father. It was supposed to be bad, but by the grace of God, it was just a little rain where they are. I feel for the people up in New York and New Jersey. They got hit hard.”

DURANT LEADS NBA IN REBOUNDING THROUGH TWO GAMES

Durant awoke Saturday as the NBA's leading rebounder at 15.5 per game. This comes on the heels of being the league's scoring champ the past three seasons.

Brooks said he had no idea Durant was the league's top rebounder. “Next year we're going to say, ‘Lead the league in assists,' ” Brooks said.

Durant also is averaging 23.0 points, which ranked ninth in the league.