NBA: Kings reinstate Cousins after missing one game

DeAndre Jordan #6 of he Los Angeles Clippers controls the ball against DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Sacramento Kings at Staples Center on December 21, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. AFP FILE PHOTO

SACRAMENTO, California— Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was reinstated by the NBA club on Monday, two days after being suspended indefinitely for unprofessional behavior and detrimental conduct.

Cousins missed the Kings’ 108-96 home victory over Portland on Sunday because of the suspension, a triumph that lifted the team’s record to 9-18, still last in the Pacific Division.

Cousins exchanged angry words in the locker room with coach Keith Smart at half-time of the Kings’ 97-85 road loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Smart decided to bench Cousins for the entire second half, ordering him not to join the other players when they returned to the court for the second half. After the game, an apologetic Cousins said his outburst was wrong.

In his third NBA season, Cousins is averaging a team-high 16.6 points plus 9.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.35 steals a game after 23 games.

Cousins was suspended for one game earlier this month by the NBA for hitting Dallas guard O.J. Mayo in the groin and suspended two games in November by the league after a confrontation with San Antonio Spurs announcer Sean Elliott.