Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler is a nightmare matchup for Kendrick Perkins.

Kendrick Perkins, Tyson Chandler

The 7-foot-1 Chandler is one of the most athletic big men in the league, and Perkins, a more plodding, traditional center, has had problems containing him.

In three games, Perkins has scored 15 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked three shots in 82 minutes. Chandler scored the same number of points in Game 2 alone, and in Game 3, Chandler pulled down one more rebound than Perkins has corralled all series.

The evidence runs even deeper. In Perkins’ 82 minutes of playing time, the Thunder has been outscored by 32 points. With Perk on the bench, the Thunder has outscored the Mavs by 23. Furthermore, with Chandler on the court, Perkins’ plus/minus per 36 minutes is minus-17.7, according to NBA.com’s StatsCube data.

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Russell Westbrook’s angry bench tirade late in the third quarter of Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Thursday night stemmed from a botched play, according to a person with direct knowledge of the incident.

Russell Westbrook

In the closing minute of the third quarter of Oklahoma City’s 106-100 victory against Dallas, Westbrook made a play call that his teammates failed to run properly. When the play broke down, Westbrook made a one-on-one move that resulted in a turnover.

Thunder coach Scott Brooks promptly took Westbrook, who had four turnovers, out of the game. Brooks slapped the All-Star point guard on his backside as he walked by.

Westbrook, a second-team All-NBA selection, never re-entered the game, sitting the final 12 minutes, 28 seconds as backup Eric Maynor scored four points and added an assist to help Oklahoma City pull out the victory.

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Kevin Durant

Thunder forward Kevin Durant has reportedly purchased a condo in a luxury high-rise in Miami.

According to the South Florida Business Journal, a company affiliated with Durant bought a $1.825 million unit at 900 Biscayne Boulevard. The company, K. Durant Enterprises, closed on the property on March 30, according to the report.

The 63-story skyscraper is just blocks away from American Airlines Arena, home of the Miami Heat, and only a short drive from Miami Beach.

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Zach Randolph

Kevin Durant declared Zach Randolph the best forward in the league.

“You can’t stop him,” Durant said. “He’s an animal . . . He’s the best power forward in the league.”

Kendrick Perkins did not rubber stamp that endorsement. Perkins declined to name his top power forward, but it is not Randolph.

“If he says so,” Perkins said about Durant’s opinion. “I don’t agree . . . I’m not going to give my opposing opponent the credit that I got to go against. So if Kevin says (Randolph is) the best power forward, then that’s Kevin’s opinion.’’

After being told in a news conference about Durant’s compliment, Randolph said, “Oh, yeah, I got to agree with that. Thanks, KD. I appreciate it.” Randolph also said that, overall, “I don’t get lot of respect that I deserve.’’

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The NBA has agreed with George Karl’s assertion that a tip-in late in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 107-103 win — a basket the Denver Nuggets coach said soured his players’ momentum in the game’s final minute — was goaltending.

The league issued a statement Monday afternoon, saying Kendrick Perkins was “improperly credited with a basket that should have been ruled offensive basket interference.”

With 1:05 to play, Russell Westbrook launched a jumper from the right side that caromed off the rim, and Perkins put-back followed, putting the Thunder up 102-101, a lead they would not relinquish Sunday night as they took a 1-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

“Although a player is permitted to touch the net while the ball is in the cylinder above the rim, Perkins also touched the ball while it was still in the cylinder which is a violation and constitutes goaltending,” the NBA said in the statement.

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Another day goes by and another team is talking about rebuilding their franchise using the model used by Sam Presti with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Washington Wizards

The Wizards, who will host the Thunder on Monday, are the latest team to have that model bandied about. New owner Ted Lonsis often references the way Oklahoma City has built their team around Durant with other young talented players and hopes the Wizards do likewise with John Wall.

“When Ted came over, he gave the mandate to try to rebuild through the draft. I think we’ve achieved a lot in a year,” Ernie Grunfeld said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we do have some assets and we have to continue to work hard, have a good draft, add another piece or two in the draft and see what the new rules are with free agency and see what happens, but we have put ourselves in a flexible position from a financial standpoint.”

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Nate Robinson

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Nate Robinson underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee the team announced in a press release.

The 5-9 guard first experienced discomfort in the knee following the team’s practice on Monday. After deliberation, Robinson and the team made the decision to proactively address the situation.

“After consulting with our medical team, we have decided this is the best course of action to resolve the issue with certainty, and have Nate back on the court as we enter into the final stages of the season,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

Robinson is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

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Kendrick Perkins

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed center Kendrick Perkins to a multiyear contract extension Tuesday, the team announced.

Perkins will receive almost $36 million fully guaranteed over the course of the four-year contract, his agent, Bob Myers, told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher.

The Celtics had reportedly offered him a four-year, $22 million contract.

“We had a unique opportunity to enter into discussions with Kendrick to solidify his future with our organization,” general manager Sam Presti said in a statement. “We are pleased to know that he will be a part of our core group now and in the future. Kendrick’s blue-collar, team-first approach aligns with the vision we hold for building a sustainable team in the Oklahoma City community.”

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Rasual Butler

The Clippers on Sunday bought out veteran swingman Rasual Butler, who averaged five points in 18 minutes and was in the last year of a contract paying him $2.4 million.

The Bulls, who possess roughly $2.9 million of salary cap room, are confident they can sign him once he clears waivers.

However, a source said Butler also is drawing interest from the Celtics, Hawks and Thunder.

FanNation

Just before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline, the Boston Celtics agreed to ship center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson to the Oklahoma City Thunder for forward Jeff Green and big man Nenad Krstic, two league sources said.

Jeff Green

Neither team was done, though.

The Celtics also traded rookie center Semih Erden and forward Luke Harangody to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a second-round draft pick.

While the Celtics were unloading big men, the Thunder acquired another one, sending Morris Peterson and D.J. White to Charlotte for center Nazr Mohammed.

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