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Kings' DeMarcus Cousins ejected after halftime argument with referees

By Ben Golliver

Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was ejected after an argument with the referees at halftime of a Monday night game against the Jazz in Utah.

Cousins, who has been suspended a total of three times by the NBA and Kings this season, exchanged words with referee Tre Maddox on his way off of the court. As Kings coach Keith Smart came over to join the conversation, referee Scott Foster hit Cousins with his second technical foul of the game, necessitating the ejection. Cousins received his first technical foul with 2:23 remaining in the second quarter.

The second half began with Jazz guard Randy Foye making the awarded free throw for the technical foul. Cousins departed with 10 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 19 minutes.

The Jazz went on to win 98-91 in overtime, improving to 27-22 with the win. The Kings fell to 17-33. Foye finished with a team-high 20 points in the win while Sacramento's Jason Thompson finished with a game-high 23 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.

After the game, the Sacramento Bee reported that Cousins admitted telling one of the referees "not to act like an [expletive] female" during the exchange.

According to NBA TV, Cousins now possesses a league-leading 12 technical fouls. Once he reaches 16 technical fouls, Cousins will be subject to a one-game suspension. A similar suspension is assessed for every two technical fouls after 16 as well.  Cousins also became the first player to be ejected three times this season.

It's been a busy season discipline-wise for Cousins, who was suspended for two games by the NBA for a post-game incident with Spurs broadcaster Sean Elliott in November and for another game due to a low-blow shot to Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo in December. He was indefinitely suspended by the Kings in December following an argument with Smart, although the suspension was formally lifted after just one game.

Cousins, 22, is averaging 17.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game this season.

Video via YouTube user firstandskol | Hat tip: @CJzero