OAKLAND – When DeMarcus Cousins is introduced Thursday night at Oracle Arena, he can expect the Kevin Durant treatment.
As an elite player making his first appearance as a member of the Warriors, it's a given that Cousins will receive a standing ovation ahead of tipoff against the 76ers.
Coverage on NBC Sports begins at 6 o'clock with Warriors Outsiders, followed by Sports Net Central ahead of the TNT telecast. NBC Sports Bay Area will have postgame coverage immediately after the game.
Cousins made his Warriors debut on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles, at the start of a five-game road trip. He played in all five games, during which the team extended its winning streak to 11 games.
The Warriors (36-14), who are opening a three-game homestand, have won the last 10 meetings with Philadelphia.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Cousins said. "It's always fun to play in front of the home crowd. I expect it to be super loud. We've got a pretty good opponent coming in. There's a lot of energy in the building, so it should be a good night in all."
Philadelphia (33-18) is coming off a 121-105 thumping of the Lakers on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The 76ers have won six of their last eight games and are 13-5 against Western Conference opponents this season, tops among Eastern Conference teams.
Sports
PROJECTED LINEUPS
Warriors
F – Kevin Durant
F – Draymond Green
C – DeMarcus Cousins
G – Klay Thompson
G – Stephen Curry
76ers
F – Jimmy Butler
F – Wilson Chandler
C – Joel Embiid
G – JJ Redick
G – Ben Simmons
INJURY REPORT
Warriors: C Damian Jones (L pectoral surgery) is listed as out.
76ers:: G Markelle Fultz (thoracic outlet syndrome), F Amir Johnson (personal reasons), C Justin Patton (R foot surgery) and G Zhaire Smith (L foot Jones fracture) are listed as out.
ROTATION OUTLOOK
Warriors: Coach Steve Kerr has remained committed to a nine-man rotation, with SF Andre Iguodala, PG Shaun Livingston, C/F Kevon Looney, and F Alfonzo McKinnie. All four have been playing well ... The return of PF Jonas Jerebko, who missed the last three games to be with his expectant wife, could lengthen the bench ... With Green given a rest night on Monday, Jordan Bell started at PF and played reasonably well. Whether it was enough to earn minutes off the bench remains to be seen ... Cousins played a season-high 25 minutes on Monday and, ideally, the Warriors would like to see it pushed to maybe 28.
76ers: Coach Brett Brown also utilizes nine players in his primary rotation, with PG TJ McConnell, G Landry Shamet, SF Corey Brewer and PF/C Mike Muscala coming off the bench ... No matter who is on the floor, it's imperative they be willing to move the basketball. Brown was an assistant in San Antonio and lifted some of his strategies from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. The Sixers are second, behind the Warriors, with 27.6 assists per game ... Though Simmons doesn't have much of a jump shot, he is an exceptionally smart offensive player. His field-goal percentage is an impressive 56.9 percent because he plays to his strengths in the paint ... Philadelphia's 15.1 turnovers per game are fourth-worst in the league).
Officials: John Goble (chief), Brent Barnaky, Mousa Dagher
