Kevin Durant has hit two game-winning shots versus the Lakers – a fact not lost on Mike Brown.

"Kevin Durant has a quality like a (Michael) Jordan, like a Kobe," Brown said Sunday. "He's going to beat you by putting that ball in the bucket. I don't care if you got one guy on him, two guys on him or three guys on him, he's still going to have a chance to get a shot off.

"We can't have any more one-possession games against these guys. We got to at least be up by two possessions if there's six or seven seconds left on the clock. We could easily be up 3-1 if he doesn't hit two difficult shots."

Durant has three game-winners in the Thunder's eight playoff games thus far.

"From afar you see … he's as cold and steeled as Kobe (Bryant) is when it comes to pressure and closing games," Brown said. "A guy can be talented and have all these tools, but sometimes it can go out the window when it comes to making a big shot. That stuff doesn't go out the window when it comes to Kevin Durant. He wants that ball."

Sam Presti is deserving of a lifetime contract as general manager of the Thunder, according to one NBA scout.

The scout credited Presti for having the foresight to select James Harden third in the 2009 draft.

“Sam Presti [VP/GM] had a lot of faith in his conviction to draft him that high [No. 3]. We all had him going No. 7, definitely not one slot ahead of Tyreke Evans.

“You and I could’ve picked Durant after the Blazers took Greg Oden No. 1,” Scout said. “Westbrook [No. 4 coming off sophomore UCLA averages of 12.7 points and 3.9 assists] and Harden were pure genius.

“Presti has earned a lifetime deal from Oklahoma City.”

Harden was voted sixth man of the year after leading all bench players in scoring this season.

“The kid is three years in the NBA and he plays like an 8-year-pro. His demeanor reminds me of Tim Duncan. He makes tough shots, takes a tough head shot, makes a great pass and commits a lousy turnover, and his expression never changes. I can’t give him higher praise.

“I’ll take Harden and Serge [Ibaka] and take my chances with six D-Leaguers.”

Derek Fisher, the former Lakers guard who knows the ins and outs of Kobe Bryant’s game like few others, sees some of Bryant in three-time scoring champ Kevin Durant.

"There are similarities in terms of that internal fire," Fisher said. "Kevin is not as demonstrative [as Kobe] in terms of his actions, but on the inside, he wants to be one of the greats."

Durant’s practice habits remind Fisher of Bryant.

"I watched Kobe for years work to become one of the greatest of all-time," Fisher said. "I think Kevin has the same love and passion for playing basketball. The process is happening, for sure. You can see he is understanding more of what it takes to be the leader of the team. Not just statistically; but the little things, the defense, the rebounding, being in the right position. Knowing when to control the game, when to get his teammates involved. But I think he is making a commitment on the defensive end. He wants to get better. He wants to improve. He is on his way."

Kobe Bryant remains confident despite suffering a 29-point loss in Game 1 of the Lakers’ Western Conference semifinals series against Oklahoma City.

"We're a team that doesn't get down when we get blown out. We've been blown out a bunch of times this season, blown out last series a couple times," Bryant said.

"We're used to dealing with that."

Bryant expects the Lakers to make the proper adjustments in Game 2.

"Everything's fixable. It's just about making adjustments. That's really what the postseason is," said Bryant, a five-time NBA champ.

"They came out, took us out back and whooped us. It's on us to make adjustments, to make changes and come back with a better effort — and we will."

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant combined to shoot 58 percent from the floor in Game 1.

"The one thing we have to do, we have to make sure that we give multiple efforts when we're defending the pick-and-roll," coach Mike Brown said. "They do a great job of sprinting out to the ball screen and creating separation. … When they're sprinting out, we've really got to get on our high horse, we've got to run with them and we've got to make sure that we affect the ball at the point of the screen as opposed for waiting for the ball to come to us."

Kendrick Perkins aggravated his hip injury in the third quarter of Oklahoma City's Game 1 win and did not return.

Perkins will be a game-time decision for Game 2.

The Thunder are relying upon Perkins to defend Andrew Bynum.

Kendrick Perkins, who’s dealing with a right hip strain, participated in drills during Sunday’s practice at the Thunder’s training facility.

“He went through some of the drills (Sunday) in practice,” Scott Brooks said. “He's taken a step in that direction (starting on Monday). We'll see how he responds after the day's work tomorrow morning. We can assess that better. He did participate in some of the work today.”

Several players expressed optimism about Perkins' condition.

“He went through practice today and looked good,” reserve forward Nick Collison said. “I'm sure if it never would have happened, he'd feel better than he does right now, but I think he'll be able to go.”

Metta World Peace has no interest in extending a hand to James Harden when the Lakers open their Western Conference semifinals series against the Thunder.

"I don't shake substitutes' hands," World Peace said after the Lakers' 96-87 Game 7 victory over the Nuggets on Saturday. "My concern is executing the coaches' game plan and that's what my concern is."

World Peace said the entire Thunder team has a habit of forgoing the usual pregrame handshake or fist pound.

"I shake everybody's hand before the game, but Oklahoma City, they don't shake hands," World Peace said. "Only some of them, but I don't think they really shake hands before the game.Kendrick Perkins and now (Russell) Westbrookdon't shake hands either. (Russell) used to shake hands, but now he don't shake hands anymore."

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden is the winner of the 2011-12 NBA Sixth Man Award as the league’s best player in a reserve role. Harden, who led all NBA reserves in scoring (16.8 ppg), came off the bench in 60 of 62 games he appeared in, helping Oklahoma City finish with the NBA’s third-best record (47-19).

Harden received 584 of a possible 595 points, including 115 of a possible 119 first-place votes, from a panel of 119 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Louis Williams, who led the Philadelphia 76ers in scoring (14.9 ppg) despite not starting a single game, finished second with 231 points. Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks, who won the award in 2008-09, finished third with 81 points.

Kendrick Perkins was still unable to practice on Tuesday, three days after sustaining a right hip muscle strain.

“In a couple of days we'll see where he is,” said Scott Brooks. “He's sore. But he just has to go through the process of getting better.” 

Perkins was spotted at the practice facility walking gingerly.

“He's doing very well. He looks good,” said Kevin Durant. “We have some of the best trainers in the league, and those guys are going to do a great job with Perk. Luckily, we got five or six days to kind of rest him a little bit and get ready for the next series.”

Kendrick Perkins is dealing with a right hip strain.

Perkins suffered the injury during the Thunder's 103-97 series-clinching win at Dallas on Saturday.

No timetable has been established for Perkin' return to the court.