Cousins returns as Kings host Hawks

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento Kings welcome back their big man to the lineup Friday night after a one-game suspension caused by his temper. They'd rather see the up-and-down brand of basketball they usually play with him stay away.

Without DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings played one of their best games this season, a 108-92 victory on Wednesdayover the Boston Celtics. Afterward, his teammates pointed to the effort and intensity that Sacramento showed for 48 minutes in defeating one of the Eastern Conference's best team.

Whether they can sustain that level when he returns Friday against the Atlanta Hawks at the Golden 1 Center is another issue entirely. With Cousins, the Kings' pattern generally has been to follow up a good game with one that is far from it. Look no further than Monday's loss at home to Chicago -- the one in which Cousins earned two more technical fouls and his suspension -- when they trailed by 27 points two nights after beating the two-time Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors as only the latest example.

"We'll see (against Atlanta), you know what I mean," forward Matt Barnes told reporters after the win over the Celtics. "We had a great game against the Warriors and then came out flat the next (game). That's one thing I preached after the game, let's keep taking steps forward."

Against Atlanta, they'll play a team with the same issue. The Hawks (31-22) lost by at least 20 points in each of their past three setbacks, all of them coming after a victory. Atlanta hasn't lost two in a row since a seven-game skid early in the season, but have only one winning streak of longer than two games since.

The Hawks posted a solid win at home Wednesday, dispatching the Denver Nuggets 117-106. They play their next three on the road against the Western Conference before taking eight days off for the All-Star break.

"The key to the whole season has been energy and mindset," Hawks foward Paul Milsap told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "If we come focused, come with a competitive mindset, then we won't get ourselves in a hole. ... When we do, we put a lot of pressure on the defense, a lot of pressure on the offense. The outcome is never good when we do that."

Sacramento (21-32) tries to post consecutive victories at home for the first time since December. Cousins' return means they will have back their leading scorer (27.9 points per game), rebounder (10.7), passer (4.7 assists) and blocker (1.35), but also must deal with a temperament that has earned Cousins 16 technical fouls faster any player since suspensions were enforced in 2005-06.

His presence also tends to slow down the Kings a bit more. They thrived in a quicker pace without him against the Celtics and "played with a purpose," guard Darren Collison told reporters.

Collison, who against Boston played off the ball for much of the first half with Ty Lawson running the point, may not have Lawson with him against Atlanta. Lawson strained his left hamstring in the second quarter and is questionable to play Friday.

The Kings could see the return of reserve forward Omri Casspi, who hasn't suited up since Jan. 13 because of a calf tendon strain. Guard Garrett Temple (partially torn hamstring) is out until after the All-Star break.