DENVER – The All-Star frontcourt duo of “Fire and Ice” will be without one of its members Sunday. New Orleans second-year head coach Alvin Gentry said during pregame at Pepsi Center that DeMarcus Cousins will not play against the Nuggets due to a right ankle sprain, an injury he sustained Friday at Houston.
“It’s still sore,” Gentry said of the three-time All-Star’s ankle. “He’s not going to be able to go tonight. He doesn’t feel comfortable enough to go out there. There is no way we’re going to stick him out there and risk further injury for one game. So we’ll sit him out and see what happens for tomorrow.”
New Orleans (30-42) is playing a back-to-back Monday, visiting Utah in a nationally televised game on TNT (9:30 p.m. Central).
Other notes from pregame in Colorado:
Gentry said Dante Cunningham will start in place of Cousins, with Anthony Davis shifting to center. This will be Cunningham’s 30th start of the season …
Asked whether he would alter his lineup depending on the availability of Cousins, Denver’s Michael Malone said, “No. We’re going with what’s worked. We’re not worrying about other teams right now. We’re going to stick with what is working for us. If we have to make adjustments as the game goes along, we will.”