New Orleans Pelicans All-Star centre DeMarcus Cousins will undergo surgery to repair a ruptured left achilles tendon after an awkward fall in their NBA win over the Houston Rockets.
Cousins will miss the remainder of the season after an MRI exam confirmed the initial diagnosis, the team announced Saturday.
"We were starting to play damn good basketball," Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry told ESPN in a text message.
"DeMarcus has been great."
Cousins suffered the non-contact injury with 12 seconds left in the 115-113 home win over the Rockets, after landing hard on his left leg.
He had to be helped off the court after the fall, which occurred when he went for a rebound on his own missed free throw.
He posted a triple-double in the contest with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.
"I feel horrible for him," Gentry said after the game.
"Everything that he's done, and what he's tried to do for us this year and what he's made himself and the improvements in all areas that he's made on and off the court, has just been great.
"I don't want that to happen to a guy that's trying to better himself."
In his first full campaign with the Pelicans, Cousins was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
The 27-year-old, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season, has never played in a play-off game.
The Pelicans have won seven of their past eight games to climb to sixth in the western conference with a 27-21 record.
"We were just figuring everything out. That's the tough part," Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis said after the game.
"We've just got to keep going. We've got to keep going and keep finding a way to win."
Davis later tweeted his support for his teammate: "My dawg!! Tough to see bro but I know you gonna come back stronger than ever. We gone hold it down for you!!"
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