Kings' Cousins sits out vs. Bucks due to back strain

The Sacramento Kings did something Wednesday night that they'd failed to do all season: They won a game without DeMarcus Cousins.

The Kings center didn't play against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a lower back strain, but the Kings exploded for 129 points in an 11-point win. Kosta Koufos started in his place.

Cousins suffered the injury during Monday night's game against the Charlotte Hornets, leaving in the fourth quarter and sitting out overtime as his team squandered a 17-point lead to lose in the extra frame.

It was the sixth game Cousins has missed this year. He sat out four straight earlier this month due to a sore Achilles, and served a one-game suspension last week for throwing a forearm at the head of Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford.

Cousins is averaging a career-high 27.9 points per game - good for fourth in the NBA - to go along with 11.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 blocks. His 26.8 PER ranks seventh in basketball.

The Kings are 5-5 this season when he suits up, and are now 1-5 when he sits out.