Newly minted All-Star starter DeMarcus Cousins was helped off the court late in New Orleans' 115-113 win over Houston Friday night after suffering a non-contact injury to his left leg.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told reporters after the game that Cousins suffered an injury to his left Achilles. Multiple reports later surfaced that the initial diagnosis of a torn Achilles tendon was confirmed by an MRI. Cousins is expected to miss the rest of the 2017-18 season.
Sources: MRI on Pelicans All-Star DeMarcus Cousins revealed a full rupture of his left Achilles tendon. — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 27, 2018
Source: An MRI has confirmed diagnosis on DeMarcus Cousins: Torn left Achilles, out for the season. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 27, 2018
Range on recovery for DeMarcus Cousins, league source tells ESPN: 6-to-10 months. — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 27, 2018
Cousins finished the game with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, marking his second triple-double this week. New Orleans has now won four straight and seven of its last eight games.
Cousins' standing as a teammate and a star player have never been higher while helping the Pelicans inch closer to their first playoff appearance since 2015 -- and the first postseason of Cousins' own eight-year career.
The 6-10 big man is averaging career-highs in rebounds, assists, steals and 3-pointers made per contest in the final season of his current contract. Cousins was expected to command a new max salary deal this offseason. Between New Orleans investing in him via trade last season and Cousins' dominant pairing with fellow big man Anthony Davis, the Pelicans figured to play a prominent role in his free agent decision.
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Pelicans star DeMarcus Cousins was helped off the court during the fourth quarter of Friday's game against the Houston Rockets after he reportedly suffered a full rupture of his left Achilles, per Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com first reported the possible rupture, and Wojnarowski noted the center will miss six to 10 months with the injury.
"We're scared about it," head coach Alvin Gentry said, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "I feel horrible for him. Everything that he's done and what he's made himself and the improvements in all areas that he's made, on and off the court, it's just been great. Our guys feel terrible."
The injury occurred when Cousins was attempting to get his own rebound after missing a free throw. He swatted at the ball, grabbed his left leg and fell to the ground in the final seconds of New Orleans' 115-113 victory at the Smoothie King Center.
After being acquired by the Pelicans in a midseason trade last February, Cousins has paired nicely with Anthony Davis. The 27-year-old averaged 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds in 48 games this season.
Depth is not a strength for the Pelicans as they seek a return to the playoffs following a two-year absence. Cousins and Davis both average a double-double and have carried the team to a 27-21 record.
The Pelicans are particularly thin at center behind Cousins. Alexis Ajinca is likely out for the season after December surgery on his right patellar tendon. With Cousins likely out for the season as well, Davis, Omer Asik and Cheick Diallo will play the position.
0:48 Cousins leaves game with torn Achilles DeMarcus Cousins gets injured after rebounding his own foul shot in the final minute against the Rockets. Cousins would need assistance leaving the court for the locker room.
NEW ORLEANS -- Pelicans All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins will undergo surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season, league sources told ESPN.
An MRI late Friday night confirmed an initial diagnosis of a full tear of the tendon, league sources said.
"We were starting to play damn good basketball," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told ESPN in a text message. "DeMarcus has been great."
Editor's Picks Pelicans get huge win over Rockets but lose DeMarcus Cousins Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans showed poise in beating the Houston Rockets, despite losing a 21-point lead and All-Star DeMarcus Cousins in the fourth quarter.
Answering the big questions after DeMarcus Cousins' injury When Cousins went down Friday night, did he take the Pelicans' season with him? Kevin Pelton looks at the future for the team and for Cousins, who is an impending free agent. 1 Related
Cousins suffered the noncontact injury with about 12 seconds left in Friday's 115-113 win over the Rockets when he attempted to rebound his own missed free throw by poking the ball away from Houston's Trevor Ariza. After landing hard on his left leg, Cousins hopped a couple of times on his right foot and then collapsed to the court when he attempted to put pressure on his left foot again.
He needed assistance from teammates to exit the court.
"I feel horrible for him," Gentry said after the game. "Everything that he's done, and what he's tried to do for us this year and what he's made himself and the improvements in all areas that he's made on and off the court, has just been great. I don't want that to happen to a guy that's trying to better himself."
Cousins had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists before leaving, recording his second triple-double in the past three games. This season, he is averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. According to ESPN Stats & Information, over the past 50 seasons, only four players averaged those numbers for an entire season -- and all four were named MVP.
1:08 Pelicans to miss Cousins for rest of season After DeMarcus Cousins tore his left Achilles tendon in Friday's win over the Rockets, Adrian Wojnarowski discusses a text conversation he had with Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, who said the team was playing "damn good basketball."
The Pelicans have won seven of their past eight games to climb to sixth in the Western Conference standings with a 27-21 record, but the loss of Cousins will be significant. Acquired from the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline last season, he has averaged 22.0 points, 15.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game during New Orleans' recent hot streak.
"We were just getting it," Pelicans All-Star power forward Anthony Davis said. "We were just figuring everything out. That's the tough part. We've just got to keep going. We've got to keep going and keep finding a way to win."
Davis afterward tweeted his support for his teammate.
My dawg!! Tough to see bro but I know you gonna come back stronger than ever. We gone hold it down for you!! #Pels #Brothers pic.twitter.com/BLCs07ZdrH — Anthony Davis (@AntDavis23) January 27, 2018
Both Cousins and Davis were selected as starters for next month's All-Star Game. LeBron James, who picked both of them for his team Thursday, was among many players to react to Friday's news.
Thoughts out to @boogiecousins! Hope you good big fella. 🙏🏾 — LeBron James (@KingJames) January 27, 2018
Cousins is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
"Just unfortunate, really," Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday said. "I think we've been doing really well, got in a great groove.
"The way we've been playing, and him in particular, has been awesome."
