Thunder's Perkins has surgery on groin

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma City Thunder starting center Kendrick Perkins is expected to be ready for next season after having surgery on his right groin Thursday.

The team announced that the procedure was a success and that Perkins will miss four to six weeks before returning to normal offseason activities.

Perkins partially tore the groin in Game 4 of the Thunder's first-round playoff sweep of Dallas, although Oklahoma City withheld the extent of his injury until after the season. At the time, the Thunder only called it a strained hip muscle.

Perkins said after the season that he would not need surgery and he was excited that he would be able to work on his basketball skills after dealing with knee injuries the past two offseasons.