The Los Angeles Lakers exchanged their roster from DeMarcus Cousins for Markieff Morris in February. In Cousins’ first game against his former squad on Sunday, he and Morris had an irritable trade.
Neither player made it to the end of the game.
Morris and Cousins were charged with double technical fouls with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter of Houston Rockets ‘120-102 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers for being hit in a series of shoves after Morris’ blatant 1 foul on Jae . Sean Tate, who sent the missiles to the ground.
Morris was sent off for the offense after taking revenge on Cousins, causing him to fall to the floor by attacking him by pushing him while helping Tate. Not long after, Cousins was also sent off early in the second quarter when he was called up for a blatant foul 2 for hitting LeBron James in the head. The hit appeared to be incidental, as Cousins attempted to steal the ball from James as the Lakers star drove to the basket. However, the umpires ruled that Cousins deserved a blatant call 2 and an automatic eviction. Cousins has been ejected twice in the Rockets’ last four games. He was charged with two technical fouls in the space of two minutes and 53 seconds before being sent off to the Dallas Mavericks in Monday’s loss.
“I thought [Cousins] He defended his teammate in the first half, the first technique, and I will support him 100% as he defends his teammate, “said Rockets coach Stephen Silas. He defended Jae’Sean. . He wouldn’t let his rookie happen, and I think that’s admirable.
“He [flagrante 2]When he hit LeBron in the face or whatever, it’s a decision. Or I don’t even know if it’s a decision; comes from the repeater cabin. deal with it. But defending his teammate shows a lot of who DeMarcus Cousins is. “
The Lakers signed Cousins in the summer of 2019 to try to recreate the front court success he had with Anthony Davis at the New Orleans Pelicans, but the former All-Star center never played a game for Los Angeles after break up. the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. during a fetch game.
Cousins negotiated a spot on the roster in February to sign Morris, who signed a purchase agreement with the Detroit Pistons and was on the market.
Morris was instrumental during the Lakers’ championship run, ironically playing his most effective ball in the second round against Houston when he scored 16 points in Game 2 to level the series 1-1 and again for 16 points in Game 5. shut down the missiles.
Although Cousins was not on the Lakers’ playoff roster, his name was still on every Lakers championship ring. The Lakers plan to give Cousins a championship ring when they host the Rockets at Staples Center later this season, league sources told ESPN.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.