Kings’ Cousins suspended for season finale

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins battles under the basket. (Steve Yeater/AP)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Kings centre DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended one game without pay by the NBA for receiving his 16th technical foul of the season.

The NBA said Cousins will serve his suspension during Wednesday’s season finale against Phoenix. He was called for a technical foul in Sacramento’s 106-103 win over Minnesota on Sunday night after waving his arm at an official.

The technical foul was Cousins’ first since Feb. 25 and ended the longest stretch of his career without one.

NBA President of Basketball Operations Rod Thorn said Monday that the league upheld the call. Players and coaches are suspended one game when they reach 16 technical fouls.

Cousins has needed the NBA to rescind a technical foul in each of the previous two seasons to avoid the automatic suspension.

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