Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee reports that DeMarcus Cousins will miss the Kings' Friday game against the Detroit Pistons due to back spasms. Given that the visit to Motor City is the most winnable game of the six-game road trip that the Kings are currently on, this is bad news for Sacramento.
Cousins has been the team's leading rebounder and No. 3 scorer. He had a rough game in a blow-out loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday, but sprung for 28 points and 17 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. In his place, expect either J.J. Hickson or Chuck Hayes to start, and for Travis Outlaw and perhaps Donte Greene to get more minutes up front. Hassan Whiteside, who got his first four minutes of the season in garbage time on Wednesday, could be called upon, too.
The Kings have Saturday off, and visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.