DeMarcus Cousins injures left quadriceps early in Game 2

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Starting Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins injured his left quadriceps muscle in the first quarter of Monday night’s Game 2 in the first round of the playoffs against the Clippers and was done for the night.

Golden State said Cousins wouldn’t return and was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam in the next 24 hours after he got hurt in just his second career playoff game following a nine-year wait. The big man returned in January from a nearly year-long absence following surgery for a torn left Achilles tendon.

He hobbled to the locker room at the 8:09 mark of the first quarter. At the 8 1/2-minute mark Cousins stole the ball from Patrick Beverley in the back court and tried to retrieve the loose ball when went down in front of the Golden State bench and grabbed at his left quad.

Cousins fouled out of Saturday’s 121-104 Game 1 win with nine points, nine rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.