DeMarcus Cousins Finally Solves Oracle Arena Riddle in Win Over Pacers

OAKLAND - A little more than a week ago in a Toyota Center hallway, DeMarcus Cousins was having a hard time solving a riddle. 

Following a 27-point, eight-rebound performance against the Rockets, Cousins was still facing a conundrum. 

"For some reason, I can't just have a good game at Oracle, I don't know what it is," Cousins said on March 13. "But I'm sure it'll happen eventually." 

Entering Thursday's matchup against the Pacers, Cousins averaged nearly six more points on the road than his home output, shooting less than 37 percent from the field. However, in a 112-89 demolition of Indiana, Cousins, for the moment, beat the meager odds, finishing with 19 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. 

"DeMarcus was fantastic," head coach Steve Kerr said. "He was physical in there, getting a lot of drives to the hoop, drawing a lot of attention defensively and making great passes." 

When the Warriors signed Cousins, then recovering from an Achilles tear, the hope was for the former All-Star to give the champs an element it hasn't seen during its run: An offensive-minded center who can dominate down low. Remnants of that promise was seen Thursday evening, as Cousins scored 13 points in the first half, helping Golden State shoot 51 percent from the field. 

"The dude is amazing," Stephen Curry said. "He did it all different ways in terms of inside, outside. Put pressure on their bigs to have to make decisions."

Since Cousins returned more than two months ago, he's seen both the highs and lows of an Achilles rehab. Those lows have typically coincided with home outings. Entering Thursday, he averaged 12.5 points on just 36 percent shooting from the field, compared to 18.5 points on 54.7 percent shooting away from Oakland. 

Perhaps Indiana is an appropriate team for the man they call 'Boogie' to find his groove. Two months ago against the Pacers, in just his fifth game back in the lineup, he scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half, punishing Indiana's frontline, giving a glimpse of the levels Golden State could reach. 

"It's just a different dimension for us that we've never had," Kerr said. "We did play through David West on the low-block the last couple years, but it's different when DeMarcus gets going downhill, with shooters around him, he's just a force."

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For the last two months, the Warriors have been searching for ways to integrate the talented center, and for the time being, the two sides seems to be clicking. Over his last five games, Cousins is averaging 19 points, 9.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

"I love playing with DeMarcus." Klay Thompson said. "He sets great screens, he catches everything you throw at him and he's just an amazing presence out there with his toughness and competitiveness and he's going to be such a big part of what we do in the playoffs."
 

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