Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins suffered an ankle injury against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday and did not return to the contest, per Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
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The Western Conference All-Star reserve received a frightening experience in the fourth quarter of the Kings’ 121-117 defeat at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies, who now hold the fifth seed in the conference, having to be carried off of the court after suffering a sprained left ankle injury, sending the hearts of Sac-town’s faithful into spasms.
I’ll give Omri Casspi credit for sparking a little bit of a run to close out the third quarter. Memphis has defeated Sacramento in each of the last 10 games dating back to February of 2009.
When Cousins was out of action with viral meningitis past year, Sacramento went from looking like a possible playoff contender to firing head coach Mike Malone, which was the beginning of the end of the Kings’ playoff hopes.
The Kings made their best effort to come back after going down big in the first quarter.
Western Conference teams clash at the FedExForum as the Memphis Grizzlies host the Sacramento Kings in the regular season of the National Basketball Association.
Jeff Green again exploded off the bench for 29 points and three steals to lead the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies were able to score 16 in the final three minutes and sealed the game with four late free-throws by Courtney Lee.
“I think about (the games the Kings should have won) all the time, but we just can’t keep thinking about it and talking about it”, center DeMarcus Cousins said. Rondo’s assists numbers are verbalizing loudly as well, and his 15 assists against New Orleans marked his 14th consecutive game with 10 or more, tying the franchise record set by Hall of Famer Nate Archibald in 1972. He was injured earlier in the game – midway through the second quarter – and limped to the locker room.
Undoubtedly, Cousins is going to be a handful for the Grizzlies and stopping him is something they should make their first priority. He returned to the floor to open the second half. He is averaging 27.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.66 blocks/steals in 34 minutes a night this season.
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The Kings were expected to be better this year under George Karl, and they are, but perhaps just not far enough ahead of last season to please all doubters.
