DeMarcus Cousins Suspended by NBA After Receiving 18th Technical Foul

The NBA has suspended New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins for his team's game Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons after he picked up his 18th technical foul of the season Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Howard Beck of Bleacher Report shared the league's statement on the incident:

Cousins initially received a one-game suspension without pay on Feb. 7 as a member of the Sacramento Kings for reaching the NBA's threshold of 16 technical fouls in a season. Hitting that milestone means every two additional technicals Cousins picks up trigger an additional one-game suspension.

At this point in the season, the Pelicans can ill afford to lose Cousins for another contest.

Entering Tuesday, New Orleans was 23-37 and 3.5 games behind the Denver Nuggets for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot. Not having one of the team's most dynamic players on the floor may hamper the pursuit of that postseason berth.

Cousins is one of two players—along with Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook—averaging at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game this season. Trying to eke out a win against Detroit figures to be more daunting without that elite production.

Teetering on the edge of playoff contention, the Pelicans can only hope Cousins will keep his temper under control as the regular season draws to a close.