Kings' Cousins remains out with calf strain

The Sacramento Kings are once again without center DeMarcus Cousins for Friday's contest against the playoff-hopeful Charlotte Hornets. There was thought that Cousins would be able to play, but he remains out with a right calf strain. 

Cousins also missed the team's last game, a 116-105 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Sacramento has gone 2-13 without Cousins, the team's leading scorer. 

The first-time All-Star is averaging career highs of 23.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 blocks in 52 games. He ranks fifth in the league in scoring and third in rebounding. 

Sacramento enters the game losers of four straight. Charlotte, meanwhile, has dropped two in a row and is a half-game back of the Boston Celtics for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.