NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has suspended Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins for one game and fined him $20,000 for punching an opposing player and verbally abusing an official in a game earlier this week.
Cousins has been suspended for punching Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley in the stomach with 9:44 remaining in the first quarter of the Kings' 129-103 loss on Tuesday night in Sacramento.While the punch was not punished during the game, you can see why it earned the attention of the league. At the same time, the act might not have deserved a suspension on its own. Although "punch" is probably the best word for the strike, Cousins doesn't exactly take a full swing at Beverley — he hits him as the Rockets guard cuts through the lane. It's not a light blow, but players have avoided ejections for less.He has been fined for verbally abusing a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Cousins, who leads the team in scoring (22.3 points per game) and rebounding (11.5 per game), will serve his suspension on Friday when the Kings visit the Los Angeles Lakers.
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