Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins, left, shoots against San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, April 12, 2013, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 108-101. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) (The Associated Press)
OKLAHOMA CITY – The NBA has rescinded one of Demarcus Cousins' technical fouls, allowing Sacramento's leading scorer to play Monday night at Oklahoma City instead of serving an automatic one-game suspension.
Cousins had picked up his 16th technical foul of the season Sunday night at Houston. Normally, a player with 16 technical fouls in a season is suspended for the next game.
Coach Keith Smart says he got a call from NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson to inform him that Cousins would be eligible to play.
Cousins also was in jeopardy of being suspended for a game at Oklahoma City last April before having a technical foul rescinded by the league.
The Thunder were holding out starting center Kendrick Perkins (hamstring), sixth man Kevin Martin (back) and reserve Derek Fisher (foot) because of injuries.
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