NBA News: Cheap Shot to Cost Cousins $20K and 1-Game Suspension [VIDEO]

It’s a not-so-cheap shot now. For punching Houston Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley and confronting an official abusively, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins have been fined $20,000 and suspended for a game by the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The punching incident happened right at the start of the Houston Rockets-Sacramento Kings tiff last Tuesday. Houston won in that game via a 129-103 blowout. In the video, Beverley was cutting across the lane when Cousins threw a slight jab into the point guards’ gut.

The verbal abuse on the official happened in the third quarter of the same game when Cousins was ejected.

Cousins, who did issue an apology already via Twitter, leads the league in technical fouls with 15 so far this year. He will serve his latest suspension when his Kings face the lowly Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.

Disappointed with the way I acted out on the court tonight. I want to apologize and say sorry to my team and the fans for letting them down

— demarcus cousins (@boogiecousins) February 26, 2014

"It's disappointing. ... Do I condone his actions? No, not at all. Does he have to handle himself better? Sure he does. We just need to get him to understand that we don't need him to get kicked out of the ballgame." Mike Malone said to ESPN.com.

Cousins averages career highs of 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game this season.