Pelicans' DeMarcus Cousins: Out Friday with sore knee, rib injury

Cousins has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Rockets with a sore left knee and a right rib contusion, Justin Verrier of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis:

Cousins received some good news earlier in the day when the technical foul he received in Wednesday's loss to the Heat -- his 19th of the season -- was rescinded upon further review by the league office, but it appears he escaped that game a bit banged up. According to Verrier, an MRI on Cousins' knee came back negative, and while it looks like he'll be viewed as day-to-day in advance of the team's next game Sunday against the Timberwolves, his absence Friday against one of the top teams in the Western Conference certainly won't help New Orleans' rapidly-fading playoff hopes. With Cousins out, coach Alvin Gentry will likely take a committee approach to fill the All-Star big man's minutes, with Dante Cunningham, Solomon Hill, Alexis Ajinca and Donatas Motiejunas all candidates to see extra playing time. Cousins' absence will also make fellow frontcourt star Anthony Davis a more appealing DFS play with Davis expected to see an uptick in usage.