Celtics Will Avoid Facing DeMarcus Cousins When They Visit Kings On Wednesday
By Brian Robb, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Celtics start a four-game road trip on Wednesday night in Sacramento, but they don't have to face Kings center DeMarcus Cousins in the matchup.
The All-Star big man picked up his 15th and 16th technical fouls on Monday night in a loss against the Chicago Bulls, automatically triggering a one-game suspension by the league. Any player who picks up 16 technical fouls during the regular season is subject to a one-game suspension, and then another one-game suspension for every two technical fouls thereafter.
The NBA announced Tuesday that none of Cousins' technicals from Monday night would be reversed, so he is officially suspended for Wednesday's tilt against Boston.
DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended one game for picking up his 16th technical foul. Will sit out Wednesday nights game against Boston.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) February 7, 2017
Officials whistled the technicals on Cousins for a couple of incidents on Monday night. First, the 6-foot-11 big man grabbed Bulls assistant head coach Jim Boylen during an altercation between both teams on the floor at the end of the third quarter. Cousins was given a technical after a video review.
Cousins was then ejected from the contest with a second tech with just 1.1 seconds remaining in the game after Dwyane Wade made a game-clinching steal while guarding the center on the perimeter. The 26-year-old complained to officials about being held and was sent to the showers early.
Cousins is in the midst of the best offensive season of his career, averaging 27.9 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He's averaged only 19.5 points per game in his career against the Celtics, but there is no question that Brad Stevens and company will be happy to miss him as they have always struggled to keep the big man off the glass with their undersized frontline.
The Celtics are currently in the midst of a seven-game winning streak and will also face Portland (Thursday), Utah (Saturday) and Dallas (Monday) on the trip.
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.