NEW ORLEANS >> The night put DeMarcus Cousins in a foul mood, but it had nothing to do with playing only 2 minutes of the 2017 NBA All-Star game in the West’s 192-182 victory over East on Sunday at Smoothie King Center.
While West coach Steve Kerr accommodated Cousin’s request for limited playing because he was “banged up,” Cousins felt battered amid talks that resulted in an eventual trade to the New Orleans Pelicans.
“Give me a break,” Cousins said before the trade happened. “I just need one All-Star where it’s all All-Star questions. This is my third one and there’s always been something.”
This time, something actually happened. The Kings traded Cousins and forward Omri Casspi to New Orleans for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and 2017 first- and second-round picks. The Lakers have engaged in trade talks regarding Cousins in recent years, but they have refused to concede any of their young assets.
Although Cousins said he’s “happy,” he sounded fine with joining All-Star forward Anthony Davis with the Pelicans.
“If I’m blessed to have another job, absolutely,” said Cousins about joining New Orleans. “If that’s what happens, that’s what happens.”
Davis sounded just as enthusiastic.
“He’s a great player and dominant in this league, of course, with all the numbers he put up,” Davis said. “DeMarcus is an elite player in this league.”
Making history
Davis did not exactly score 100 points as he jokingly wanted. But he lived up to his vow to collect his first All-Star MVP before a hometown crowd by scoring an All-Star record 52 points on 26-of-39 shooting and 10 rebounds. That mark surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s 42-point effort in 1962.
“Just being aggressive, playing hard, and doing what the team needs,” Davis said. “This just kind of adds on to it. Of course, we’ve got a long way to go to actually do what we want to do, but at the end of the day, I love the city, and I love these guys.”
Soaking it in
The first time in an NBA All-Star jersey left Clippers center DeAndre Jordan jokingly lamenting a few unfulfilled goals.
He mused “we have to work on our defense a little bit” after both the East and West teams basically did not play any.
“Whenever there was a fast break or somebody was driving, I let them go by,” said Jordan, who had six points on 3-of-5 shooting and three rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench. “I’m pretty sure Doc (Rivers) was somewhere sitting, thinking I hope he knows when we come back, he has to play better defense than that.”
Since neither team did, Jordan joked, “I’m upset we didn’t score 200.” That may have happened had Jordan fared better than going 0 of 2 from 3-point range. So much for Jordan’s hope to make next year’s NBA’s 3-point contest.
“If I shot 50 percent, I feel like I would’ve made my case,” said Jordan, who also lost in the first round of the NBA Dunk Contest on Saturday. “But the fact I went 0 for 2 put me in a tough spot.”
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