Cousins 1st Player Since 1986 with 30+ Points and 10+ Boards in Under 22 Minutes
New Orleans Pelicans superstar center and new trade acquisition DeMarcus Cousins became the first player since Moses Malone in 1986 to post 30-plus points and 10-plus rebounds while playing fewer than 22 minutes, per NBA Stats.
Much of his damage came at the charity stripe. The big man finished the day 15-of-15 from the free-throw line, adding 16 points on eight field goals otherwise. He added exactly 10 rebounds before fouling out with 2:38 remaining in the game. His effort wasn't enough, though, as the Pelicans lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-110.
Cousins was in foul trouble the entire contest, resulting in his limited minutes. The foul issues started just 32 seconds in when he and Steven Adams were each assessed a technical. It was the quickest Cousins has received a technical in his professional career, per the Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info). If upheld, the star big man will receive a one-game suspension for collecting 18 technicals this season.
The University of Kentucky product spent his first six-and-a-half seasons as the centerpiece of the Sacramento Kings before a deal just prior to the trade deadline sent him to New Orleans to join fellow star big man Anthony Davis. The two combined to score 69 points in Sunday's affair, but the Pelicans still haven't won a contest since the acquisition.
Cousins' contract extends one season beyond 2016-17, but New Orleans will likely attempt to re-sign him to a contract extension before it expires. Should he re-up with the club, it would sport a star-studded frontcourt for years to come and could add some pieces elsewhere to make it a contender in the Western Conference.
