OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Warriors consider it "unlikely," DeMarcus Cousins will miss the rest of the NBA playoffs after being diagnosed with a torn left quad muscle, according to a league source.
After Cousins received an MRI on Tuesday morning, the Warriors ruled Cousins out "indefinitely" and said that he "will begin his rehabilitation immediately." The Warriors do not plan for Cousins to have surgery, but they are bracing a postseason run that will require them to lean on a fluid center spot, including veteran Andrew Bogut, fourth-year forward Kevon Looney, second-year forward Jordan Bell as well as possibly Draymond Green and Jonas Jerebko with spot minutes.
That news confirmed the Warriors' initial fears after he left the team's eventual Game 2 loss with 8:09 remaining in the first quarter.
"He's going to be out for while because I think it's unclear right now how long he'll be out," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Monday evening. "It's significant."
Cousins tore his left quad muscle after forcing a turnover on Clippers center Ivica Zubac and chasing a loose ball. Cousins then fall on the ground in a non-contact play in front of the Warriors' bench. After Kerr, his assistants and the team's training staff stood up, Cousins eventually got up on his own power. Cousins declined any teammate assistance to the locker room. Instead he limped to the locker room.
This marks a depressing potential end to Cousins' one-year saga with the Warriors, who Warriors signed Cousins last year at their taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.3 million), hopeful that his presence will bolster their chances to win their fourth NBA title in the past five years. Cousins also agreed to the deal both in hopes to win his first NBA title in his first playoff appearance and rehab a surgically repaired left Achilles tendon without the pressure of being the team's franchise player.
After returning from that injury on Jan. 18 against the Clippers, the Warriors became mostly encouraged with his progress surrounding his conditioning, timing and integration with their team. Cousins both started with four other All-Stars in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. He also was featured in staggered bench units. Through varying lineups, Cousins offered a blend of post-up plays, facilitating, an occasional outside shot and a disruptor against the NBA's top centers. Cousins faced ongoing hiccups with his conditioning, outside shooting and ability to play against smaller lineups that targeted him in pick-and-roll situations.
After suffering a season-ending injury to his left Achilles tendon last in season in New Orleans, Cousins faced a depressed free-agency market amid concerns about his recovery. Cousins had hoped he could use his season with the Warriors to maximize his free-agency earnings this summer with both his rehab, his play and blending in with an All-Star laden team in a more team-oriented culture than what he experienced in Sacramento (2010-2017) and New Orleans (2017-18). Instead, Cousins might face more concerns in July. Because of the terms in the salary cap, the Warriors can only re-sign Cousins up to a $6.36 million deal, marking a 20 percent increase from what he made this season.
"Just man-to-man in terms of him, what he's been through, it's tough. There's no sugarcoating it at all," Stephen Curry said following the Warriors' Game 2 loss on Monday. "You hate seeing that opportunity again on this big stage taken away from him like that."
