Cousins injures right knee in Team USA practice

Published Aug. 14, 2014 1:50 p.m. ET

foxsports

CHICAGO (AP) Team USA is hoping for the best after watching another player get helped off the court with an injury.

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins hurt his right knee when he got tangled with Anthony Davis after both big men hit the floor going after a loose ball during a scrimmage toward the end of Thursday's practice.

The World Cup of Basketball is just two weeks away.

''Definitely scary, not just the fact that he went down, but the fact that I actually was the one who dove on him,'' Davis said. ''I kind of feel bad and I hope he's fine because he really wants to be here. He really wants to play.''

Cousins watched the end of the scrimmage with a bag of ice on his knee as trainers milled around his table. He took a few ginger steps while players were coming off the floor.

''We're hopeful it's just a bruise or a slight sprain, but we won't really know until he gets his MRI,'' said Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of USA Basketball. ''We hope it turns out to be nothing, but more precautionary than anything else. But nothing definitive until we get the results.''

It was the Americans' first workout since Paul George broke his right leg in a gruesome injury that occurred during an intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 1 in Las Vegas. Kevin Durant also withdrew from the team last week.

Colangelo said he spoke with the team about George's injury.

''I think time heals,'' Colangelo said after practice. ''What took place after a few days is that in checking with all the players, they were all in, looking forward to coming to Chicago and everyone showed and they played really hard today, so we're pleased.''

The U.S. is expected to practice again on Friday, and hosts Brazil in an exhibition at the United Center on Saturday night. Colangelo said Cousins likely wouldn't play for the next couple of days.

The roster is at 16 players after Rudy Gay joined the pool following Durant's departure. It has to be cut to 12 before the World Cup begins on Aug. 30.

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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap