DeMarcus Cousins out Saturday
In the first practice since Paul George broke his right leg during a scrimmage, Team USA suffered another injury blow.
DeMarcus Cousins injured his right knee in Thursday's practice while going for a loose ball. He got tangled with Anthony Davis when both big men hit the floor during a scrimmage toward the end of practice. Cousins had to be helped off the court, and he favored his right leg.
Jerry Colangelo, director of Team USA, said he is "wishful, hopeful" that Cousins is OK and told reporters that the Sacramento Kings big man will miss Saturday's game against Brazil. Colangelo said Cousins will have a precautionary MRI on his leg as soon as possible.
"We're hopeful it's just a bruise or a slight sprain, but we won't really know until he gets his MRI," Colangelo said. "We hope it turns out to be nothing, but more precautionary than anything else, but nothing definitive until we get the results."
Colangelo added: "We think it's going to be precautionary, at least that's our hope and expectation based on what the doctor and the trainers are saying, but we need an MRI just to be sure. He needs that too, just for his own mental well-being. He said he got a little scared, obviously, when you go down after we had that prior injury (to Paul George), so let's just hope for the best."
Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Team USA staff spoke with Cousins immediately after practice ended. He was sitting on a training table with an ice pack on his right knee. Cousins did not appear to be too concerned as he checked his cellphone.
"We hope that he'll be fine," Krzyzewski said. "They want to take precaution like we do with all of our guys. But I can't give you any word on him right now."
The team is practicing at Quest MultiSport Complex in Chicago.
It has been a rough few weeks for Team USA. After losing George to an open tibia-fibula fracture, NBA MVP Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder withdrew from consideration for the team, citing "physical and mental fatigue."
George's injury and Durant's withdrawal followed previous withdrawals by All-Stars Kevin Love, Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, and NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard.
Team USA is down to 15 finalists, with the final 12 scheduled to be selected before the Americans depart for the World Cup of Basketball in Spain in late August. The FIBA World Cup, featuring 24 national teams, is scheduled to be held Aug. 30-Sept. 14.
Information from ESPNChicago.com's Nick Friedell and The Associated Press was used in this report.
