Cousins’ return: ‘When it happens, it happens’

After practicing twice this week with Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, center DeMarcus Cousins isn’t necessarily close to making his Warriors debut.

“That’s why we still don’t have a timetable,” Golden State head coach Steve Kerr said. “He needs to feel confident with the Achilles, his conditioning, his rhythm, his timing and everything else. We’re not going to rush him back. We’re going to help him through that process. When it happens, it happens.”

Cousins hasn’t experienced any setbacks in his rehab from a torn left Achilles tendon he sustained in January while with the New Orleans Pelicans. But after running Cousins through a practice Wednesday morning, Santa Cruz Warriors head coach Aaron Miles conceded that Cousins is “probably not moving as well as he wants to right now.”

The typical recovery timetable for an Achilles injury is between eight and 12 months. That Cousins is 6-foot-11 and 270 pounds only makes his rehab trickier.

There had been speculation in recent weeks that he would return sometime around New Year’s Day. That seems increasingly unlikely, with a February return appearing more plausible.

The good news for Golden State: It has the luxury of time. The team’s biggest hope is that Cousins is in a rhythm for the playoffs, which start in mid-April.

“There’s a lot of obstacles coming back from a serious injury,” Kerr said. “That is a difficult task, but doing so in a new environment and new team makes it very difficult.

“DeMarcus recognizes those challenges and is working to overcome them. That’s why he’s been more engaged in practice and become accustomed to our schemes and style of play, and, at the same time, working on his rehab.” Livingston update: Point guard Shaun Livingston has been ruled out for Friday night’s game in Sacramento because of a pelvic contusion.

Livingston’s injury isn’t considered serious, but Kerr said Livingston could use some time off. A recent rash of injuries made it impossible for Livingston to get the periodic off day that he is accustomed to receiving.

“I think this is kind of a good, natural point in the season for him to get a little rest anyway,” Kerr said of Livingston, who has played 16 straight games. “Before this season, we’ve talked about resting Shaun and Andre (Iguodala) periodically. This is a natural time for him to get past his injury, get off his legs a little bit.”

Before leaving Wednesday’s loss to the Raptors for good with 8:36 left, Livingston had one point and one rebound in 15 minutes. He is averaging 4.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 20 games this season.

Iguodala, who has missed the past two games because of left hip soreness, is questionable for Friday’s game.