Boogie Wonderland
Cousins assembles historic triple double to power Pelicans
My strength coach had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to lift after this game. I almost lost it. If I had some energy, we would’ve fought DEMARCUS COUSINS New Orleans Pelicans
NEWORLEANS— DeMarcus Cousins had a triple double in New Orleans’ 132-128 double overtime win over Chicago, becoming the first player since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to have at least 40 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a game. Cousins finished with 44 points, 24 rebounds and 10 assists as he combined with Anthony Davis, who scored 34, to spark a Pelicans’ comeback in regulation before they pulled off the marathon victory against the Bulls on Monday. Cousins, nicknamed “Boogie” during his college days, scored seven points in the second overtime on a three-pointer, a turnaround jumper and two free throws with eight seconds left in front of a crowd of 17,100 at Smoothie King Center arena. He became the first NBA player since Hall of Famer Abdul-Jabbar in 1972 to achieve the feat. The others who have done it are Wilt Chamberlain (six times), Oscar Robertson and Elgin Baylor. All four players are in the hall of fame. Chamberlain had one of the greatest games in history when he collected 51 points, 29 rebounds and 11 assists against Detroit in February 1963. “I’m just glad we won,” Cousins said. “It wouldn’t have really meant (much) if I didn’t get a win.
“It’s cool to be in company with a guy like Wilt. He was a guy who put up video-game numbers his entire career. Just to have a little game like his, it’s pretty cool.”
Cousins said he was physically drained after playing a career-high 52 minutes.
“My strength coach had the nerve to ask me if I wanted to lift after this game. I almost lost it. If I had some energy, we would’ve fought,” he said, smiling.
E’Twaun Moore scored 15 points, including a three in the second overtime, to help the Pelicans win for the fifth time in six games. Jrue Holiday finished with 12 points and Darius Miller had 10 for New Orleans.
Kidd fired
In Milwaukee, Khris Middleton scored 35 points and hit two long jumpers in the final minute, Malcolm Brogdon added 32 points and Milwaukee beat Phoenix, 109-105, hours after firing coach Jason Kidd.
Kidd was fired hours before the game, ending a three-plus season tenure that included two playoff appearances but stretches of inconsistency on both ends of the floor. Other than a 33-win season in 201516, the Bucks hovered around .500 under Kidd as a young core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Brogdon blossomed into top-flight players.