Sacramento Kings Win Without DeMarcus Cousins As He Battles Viral Meningitis
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — The Sacramento Kings will be without star DeMarcus Cousins for another week as he battles viral meningitis.
The team is now 2-4 without Cousins on the season after a 101-92 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday.
Kings broadcaster Jerry Reynolds says he's worked in the league 30 years, and can't recall a case where viral meningitis benched a player.
"Normally, you're talking about guys with back spasms, or knee problems, or things of that nature," he said.
The infection can create symptoms as mild as a headache or can lead to life-threatening danger. The team indicates Cousins will be fine.
The virus can lead to inflammation and can lie dormant before being triggered, possibly causing dangerous inflammation to the lining of the spinal cord and brain, says Sacramento doctor Eric Tepper.
"I mean one of the reasons that we vaccinate for chicken pox is chicken pox can very rarely cause a viral meningitis and that can be a crippling, life-threatening disease," he said.