Report: Warriors' Cousins targeting return after Christmas

Golden State Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins' season debut may be on the horizon.

Cousins is targeting a return to the court sometime after Christmas, sources told The Mercury News' Logan Murdock.

The big man reportedly hoped to return to action during the Warriors' upcoming five-game road trip but the team opted to keep Cousins sidelined to ensure he enters the lineup in optimal condition, according to Murdock.

Cousins has been a frequent participant in scrimmages in recent days, including Saturday and Monday. He's not believed to have suffered a setback in his recovery and is expected to be re-evaluated Tuesday, Murdock adds.

The 2018-19 season has thus far been bumpier for the Warriors than perhaps initially expected. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry is working through injuries of his own and the locker room spat between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green remains a talking point. However, Golden State still boasts the fourth-best record in the league (14-7) and fifth-best average scoring differential (5.3 points per game).