Lake Show Life
Fansided

Lakers News: DeMarcus Cousins involved in NBA 2K Players Tournament

Austin Connolly|
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to the start of a basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on February 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 21: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers works out prior to the start of a basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Staples Center on February 21, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

With the season under indefinite suspension, the NBA, NBA Players Association, NBA 2K, and ESPN have joined forces for a virtual basketball tournament to bring you the NBA 2K Players Tournament. Former Laker DeMarcus Cousins being involved makes this a piece of Los Angeles Lakers news as well.

Today at 7:30 PM ET, the tournament kicks off on ESPN and ESPN 2. The single-elimination tournament features sixteen NBA players including stars Kevin Durant, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, Domantas Sabonis, Devin Booker, and Andre Drummond.

First-round matchups have been determined by each participant’s rating in NBA 2K:

1. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets (96 overall)

2. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks (90 overall)

3. Hassan Whiteside, Portland Trail Blazers (87 overall)

4. Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz (87 overall)

5. Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (86 overall)

6. Andre Drummond, Cleveland Cavaliers (85 overall)

7. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls (85 overall)

8. Montrezl Harrell, LA Clippers (85 overall)

9. Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers (85 overall)

10. Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns (85 overall)

11. DeMarcus Cousins (81 overall)

12. Michael Porter Jr., Denver Nuggets (81 overall)

13. Rui Hachimura, Washington Wizards (79 overall)

14. Patrick Beverley, LA Clippers (78 overall)

15. Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings (78 overall)

16. Derrick Jones Jr., Miami Heat (78 overall)

In tonight’s matchups, future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant will face off against high-flyer and 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion Derrick Jones Jr. on ESPN. At 8:30 PM ET, Chicago Bulls star Zach Lavine and rising star Deandre Ayton square off on ESPN 2.

At 9:30 ET, rising star Trae Young takes on Harrison Barnes. The final game of the night tips off at 10:30 and features Portland Trailblazers center Hassan Whiteside and the feisty Los Angeles Clippers point guard Patrick Beverly.

Despite the vast overall rating discrepancies in some of our first-round matchups, they are in no way an accurate gauge of a player’s ability on the sticks. Could Jones, Ayton, Barnes, or Beverly pull off an upset tonight?

Lakers News: DeMarcus Cousins has 12/1 odds.

If you’re a betting man or woman going through withdrawals, Hugging the Lines has released their (unofficial) odds for the tournament:

https://twitter.com/HuggingLines/status/1245065968801497095

With no NBA games on the horizon, check out the full schedule below for more NBA 2K action:

Tonight’s Full Schedule

Pregame-Show

7:00 PM ESPN

Kevin Durant vs. Derrick Jones Jr.

7:30 PM ET ESPN

Zach Lavine vs. Deandre Ayton

8:30 PM ET ESPN2

Trae Young vs. Harrison Barnes

9:30 PM ET ESPN2

Hassan Whiteside vs. Patrick Beverley

10:30 PM ET ESPN2

The remaining first-round matchups will air on April 5th beginning at 12:00 PM ET. The quarter-finals are currently slotted for Tuesday, April 7th with the semi-finals and finals set to take place on Saturday, April 11th.

Home/Lakers News