DeMarcus Cousins will probably not play again this season. But, there’s a small chance he could return.
The 28-year-old center, who suffered a torn left quadriceps in the Warriors’ shocking Game 2 loss to the Clippers earlier this week, will not need surgery, coach Steve Kerr told reporters Wednesday. Cousins is still unlikely to be back on the court in the playoffs, Kerr said, but the team isn't ruling him out just yet.
"DeMarcus, most likely, will not be back during the playoffs," Kerr said. "You're probably looking at a couple months' recovery, so it's unlikely. But (the Warriors' sports medicine staff has) told me that there are occasions where that injury heals faster. So we're leaving the door open, obviously."
Full Steve Kerr update on DeMarcus Cousins: No surgery required, rehab likely a couple months, expected to miss playoffs, but staff has told Kerr that this injury occasionally heals quicker, so they’re leaving return door open pic.twitter.com/LE7CxJhvhT
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) April 17, 2019
Cousins suffered the injury when he fell chasing down a loose ball on a fast break in the first quarter of the matchup. He was helped back to the locker room and was ruled out shortly after.
Boogie went back to the locker room after this play with apparent leg injury. pic.twitter.com/WgzWjxA17B
— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) April 16, 2019
The four-time All-Star made his first career playoff appearance in Game 1 of the series, scoring nine points and grabbing nine rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
Warriors star Stephen Curry said he “felt for” Cousins.
“This is a big stage, the playoffs,” Curry told reporters after Game 2. “He's been looking forward to this. I don't know the extent of the injury at this point. Hope he gets back sooner than later. Just man-to-man in terms of him, what he's been through, it's tough for sure.
“There's no sugarcoating it at all. You hate seeing that opportunity again on this big stage taken away from him like that.”
Cousins signed a one-year, $5.3 million deal with the Warriors in July and missed the team’s first 45 games as he continued to recovery from a torn Achilles.
"More than anything, I'm just crushed for DeMarcus," Kerr said. "He's been waiting his whole career for this. Then, the second game, he goes down after putting all that work in to recover from the Achilles. And he's had a great season for us. He's really come along the last month or so. I just feel bad for him."
Cousins finished the regular season averaging 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game.