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Kings' Cousins doubtful Wednesday due to back strain

Kelley L Cox / USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings may have to do something Wednesday night that they've failed to do all season: win a game without DeMarcus Cousins.

The Kings' All-NBA center has been listed as doubtful for the game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a lower back strain.

Cousins suffered the injury at some point during Monday night's game against the Charlotte Hornets, leaving in the fourth quarter and sitting out overtime as his team squandered a 17-point lead to lose in the extra frame.

He missed four games earlier this month due to a sore Achilles and served a one-game suspension last week for throwing a forearm at Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford's head.

Having worked a 3-point shot into his already terrifying offensive arsenal, Cousins is averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game - third in the NBA - to go along with 11.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks.

The Kings have been 11.8 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor, and are a respectable 5-5 when he plays, including the Hornets game they may well have won had he stayed on the floor in crunch time.

They've lost all five games he's sat out.

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