New Orleans Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins is expected to miss three months rehabilitating a right pectoral injury, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Kendrick Perkins had been playing a surprisingly big role with New Orleans. (Getty Images) More

The Pelicans have lost five straight to start season, including a 121-115 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

Injuries have severely impacted the slide, which has included the absence of key perimeter players Tyreke Evans, Quincy Pondexter and Norris Cole.

New Orleans didn’t expect Perkins, 30, to play a major role on the floor this season, but an injury to starting center Omer Asik made it necessary to move Perkins into the starting lineup. His presence had been considered important to the Pelicans’ coaching staff, which considered him a needed veteran voice in the locker room.

Perkins had been a starter in three Pelicans games – averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds – before going down with the pec injury Saturday against Golden State.

Perkins was thrust into the Pelicans' starting lineup because of a calf injury to Asik, which has forced the Pelicans to play smaller lineups. Alexis Ajinca has been New Orleans’ only healthy player at center.

Perkins signed a veteran’s minimum deal with the Pelicans this summer. In 13 NBA seasons, his career has included stops with the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers.

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