DENVER -- The New Orleans Pelicans will play Sunday's must-win game against the Denver Nuggets without DeMarcus Cousins, who has been ruled out because of a right ankle sprain.
Cousins hurt his ankle in Friday's 117-107 loss to the Houston Rockets and experienced soreness after the game that lingered into Sunday, keeping him out of a morning shootaround in Denver.
"He doesn't feel comfortable enough to go out there," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. "There's no way we're going to stick him out there and risk further injury for one game.