Sacramento Kings Center DeMarcus Cousins Injury Update

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins suffered a back injury following Monday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Cousins played for a total of 31 minutes, scored 30 points and snagged 11 rebounds, but was removed from the game after feeling back stiffness. James Ham of CSNBayArea.com confirmed the player would not return

This marks just one out of a string of injuries Cousins has suffered over the past year. He dealt with a series of lower leg injuries, as well as a strained Achilles tendon at the start of this season. This injury, however, did not seem to diminish his ability to play as much. Going into Monday night’s game, Cousins nailed 38.9 percent of his 36 three-point attempts.

“I think it’s explosive, and it also helps your spacing,” Kings head coach George Karl said of Cousins’ three-point shooting in October, according to the Sacramento Bee‘s Jason Jones. “It allows the ball freedom to go where it wants to go.”

Should Cousins be forced to stay out for a longer period of time, rookie Willie Cauley-Stein and veteran Kosta Koufos will probably be called upon to step up for him and help the Kings defense remain stable. The Kings will next face off against the Bucks at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

PHOTO: SACRAMENTO, CA – OCTOBER 30: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers and DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Sacramento Kings go for a loose ball at Sleep Train Arena on October 30, 2015 in Sacramento, California.