SACRAMENTO -- The return of DeMarcus Cousins. After spending most of his NBA career as the face of the Sacramento Kings' franchise, the All-Star forward returns for his first game at Golden 1 Center as a member of the visiting team. He'll face a Kings team that's lost two straight and looking for a little love on their home floor.
Bogdan Bogdanovic made his NBA debut Monday against the Phoenix Suns and came out hot. The Serbian wing hit 5-of-7 from the field for 12 points in the first half, before running out of gas after the intermission. He played well alongside fellow rookie De'Aaron Fox and veteran Garrett Temple in a small-ball lineup off coach Dave Joerger's bench.
The Pelicans come in limping. Cousins will anchor the squad, but he might be without his star running mate, Anthony Davis, who underwent an MRI on Wednesday and is listed as questionable.
OPENING LINE
Pelicans by 2
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Sports
DeMarcus Cousins vs. His emotions -- Very few players wear their emotions on their sleeve like Cousins. After six-plus seasons with the Kings, Sacramento fans will likely give the big man a standing ovation when he's announced as a starter for New Orleans. He's spent his entire career playing with a chip on his shoulder, but Thursday night's game will have extra value for the 27-year-old.
Prediction: Cousins will either have a huge game against his former team or struggle to stay in the court due to foul trouble. There is no middle ground here.
WHERE THEY STAND
Kings: 1-3, fourth place in Pacific
Pelicans: 2-3, fourth place in Southwest
INJURY REPORT
Kings: PF Harry Giles (bilateral knee rehab) out.
Pelicans: C/PF Anthony Davis (questionable), Alexis Ajinca (knee) out, Omer Asik (crohn's disease) out, Solomon Hill (hamstring) out, PG Rajon Rondo (hernia) out, Frank Jackson (right foot) out.
SERIES HISTORY
The Kings won the season series against the Pelicans last season, with both wins coming at Golden 1 Center. New Orleans holds a 42-39 lead in the all-time series between these two clubs.
THREE THINGS TO WATCH
WHO GUARDS COUSINS? -- The 3-time All-Star is a tough guard for every team in the league, but the Kings don't really have a player that can stick him both on the perimeter and when he goes to work in the post. Zach Randolph, Willie Cauley-Stein and Kosta Koufos will draw the cover, but it will take a team effort to slow Cousins.
COMING OUT COLD -- Sacramento has gotten off to slow starts in each of the team's previous two games. It likely cost them a win in Phoenix and it was a topic of conversation at media availability both Tuesday and Wednesday. If the issue persists, Dave Joerger will likely have to evaluate the starting group moving forward.
YOUNG PLAYERS CHOMPING AT THE BIT -- Joerger has been consistent so far with his rotation, but he has a couple of players pushing for a boost in minutes. De'Aaron Fox looks like a star in the making, Bogdan Bogdanovic impressed in his debut and Skal Labissiere is showing major signs of growth in year two. Balancing the minutes on this team is only going to get tougher for Joerger.
QUOTE
"I'm excited to play in front of the fans and see their reaction, but as far as it being just a revenge game or anything, I'm past it," --DeMarcus Cousins to Marc Spears on his return to Sacramento.
