Kings News: DeMarcus Cousins out 7-10 days with viral meningitis

Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins has missed the team's last five games due to illness, and the team isn't expecting the dynamic big man to return to the court for at least another week or so.

Here's USA Today's Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt with the report:

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins has missed the past five games with a case of viral meningitis and continues to recover slowly, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation.

The people spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because the team had not detailed the initial diagnosis.

The Kings announced Wednesday that Cousins had been treated at a local hospital for a viral infection and that he would miss this weekend’s games against the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic.

But while the possibility was left open that he could return on Monday against the Utah Jazz, it’s now more likely that he would attempt to resume basketball activities later in the week is expected to miss at least another seven to 10 days.

The last notable bout of viral meningitis in the NBA was suffered by Luol Deng during the 2013 NBA Playoffs, when he missed all but the Chicago Bulls' first five games. Cousins has played a pivotal role in helping the Kings start 10-10 in 2014-15 after winning just 28 games in all of 2013-14.

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