Facing the Houston Rockets Sunday, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins collected his 16th technical foul, and if it stands, he will be suspended for Monday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to league rules.
Referee Violet Palmer assessed Cousins the technical after he pushed Greg Smith with 2:47 left in the first quarter. The call was a bit questionable, as Cousins and Smith were simply battling hard for position in the post. The call will be reviewed by the NBA league office, and there's a good chance that the technical will be rescinded and Cousins won't be suspended.
Cousins has a reputation around the league as a player with a short fuse, which could help explain why Palmer was so quick to call the technical. In addition to all of the technicals he has racked up this year, Cousins also has committed three flagrant fouls, been ejected four times and suspended three times either by the NBA and the Kings.
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