Thunder notebook: Thabo Sefolosha sits; Daequan Cook starts

Thunder coach Scott Brooks opted to go with Cook over James Harden, who started for Sefolosha Monday night against the L.A. Clippers but was less effective alongside All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Brooks said he didn't make up his mind on the move until a few hours before tip-off and explained that keeping continuity with the second unit played a big part in his decision.

“James feels very comfortable at that role,” Brooks said. “I'm not saying that's always going to be the case. But he has a good rhythm with that second unit and they have a good rhythm with him. I think it's best for us right now to try to keep that unit intact as much as we can.”

Brooks credited Cook for being versatile enough to handle the starting role, calling Cook “one of the best 3-point shooters in the league,” as well as an “underrated defender” who is “one of our better perimeter rebounders.”

“He gets in there and mixes it up, which is good,” Brooks said. “That's not usually the combination with a great 3-point shooter.”

HOW SEVERE IS SEFOLOLSHA'S INJURY?

Sefolosha remains day-to-day on the official injury report, and Brooks has yet to say whether Sefolosha's foot injury is severe. But Brooks did say Wednesday that he is concerned that the ailment could linger.

“That definitely is a concern. But we'll see how he feels (Thursday),” Brooks said. “Thabo is a very competitive, tough-minded young man that loves to play. When he misses a game you know it's hard on him, because he doesn't like to miss practices or games. But that's the way it is. We just have to focus on who we have. We still have enough to win in this league. But we definitely miss Thabo. We love what he does.”

KENDRICK PERKINS ON TECHNICAL FOULS: “I'LL CHILL OUT”

Kendrick Perkins went on record early in the season as saying he typically starts to keep his emotions in check better after picking up his eighth technical foul. The Thunder's center got to eight Monday against the Clippers, and he said before playing Dallas on Wednesday that he now will calm down.

“I'll pull back and chill out,” Perkins said. “I do have to chill out.”

Perkins said sometimes it's not as easy as it might seem to simmer down.

“The crazy thing is usually a lot of my techs will be at the ref,” Perkins said. “But these last few of them, about five of them, have just been in the heat of battle as far as elbows and banging inside and stuff like that. I mean, you can watch them but I just still got to go out there and play my game.”