Jouganatos: A Night We Will Never Forget

Security shouldn't have let me anywhere inside the Golden 1 Center last night. Three days coming off the flu (don't tell Lopez or Goins) and drugged up on a dose of Ibuprofen. Let me rephrase that, If I had anything it was more like a case of asthma and I STILL haven't found my inhaler.

If I had known what was to come I probably would've looked much harder (I could've used it a couple times).

What would the Sacramento Kings look like in their return to the 916? The latest drama surrounding Sac Bee Columnist Andy Furillo, DeMarcus Cousins, and that other guy surrounding the atmosphere all night long. And for most of the night it was a subtle, bleak atmosphere. The Kings came into the fourth quarter of last night trailing 99-93. But even the six point lead made it seem like the outcome was somewhat salvageable, when in all reality the Kings had dragged all night. Ball movement lacked, guys frozen along the perimeter with no movement, and fans leaving early. The atmosphere frozen like the gummy bear outside Golden 1.

(Believe me, if I had bet someone $100 in the first half in Section 222 the Kings would've won that game EVERYONE in my section would've taken that bet)

But somehow, someway the Kings found themselves down only six points.

Then came the fourth quarter. And everything changed.

Coming off a surge in the third quarter the Kings ran out to a 17-2 run in the fourth. While the Trailblazers couldn't get a spark (1-11 shooting to start the quarter), DeMarcus Cousins was on pure, unadulterated fire.

Trailing by one with 35 seconds to play Cousins drove to the rim and got fouled as he threw in a circus-like layup that nicked the backboard and dropped straight down. The whole place losing their minds in the process. Cousins then proceeded to flex near the bench and say something to his arch enemy Meyers Leonard, which in turn caused his mouth piece to fall out.

Head referee Brian Forte blew his whistle and issued a technical foul for the moment on Cousins, earning him his second total one on the night and signaling his ejection. To say the call was late would be an understatement. It was at least ten seconds too late and when it happened Boogie proceeded to run full-speed and head straight for the locker room.

"I called a technical foul because I thought DeMarcus threw his mouthpiece into the stands when it ended up underneath Portland's bench" said Forte postgame.

Then Forte talked it over with the other officials whom explained to him that Cousins did not deliberately spit out the mouthpiece. In the process Forte rescinded Cousins' second technical, giving the gateway for him to return to the game. As Scott Moak announced the decision over the PA system the entire place lost their minds. From stage right came Cousins charging back into the arena to the tune of WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin's theme music.

It felt just like that, a WWE Pay-Per-View in real time. When I tell you that everyone lost their minds in that building it isn't an exaggeration by any means. People literally were jumping up and down. Kids, adults, everyone. We didn't care. Maybe that's why the moment was so powerful. It was like all this pent up hostility over who was right or wrong these past few days in blogs, Twitter, groups etc. It didn't matter anymore. "We just wanted a chance to cheer" as Lopez told me on the walk back to his car. Boy did we get it.

Post win was even better as Kayte Christensen asked Cousins about the technical foul who called it in his own words, "ridiculous". Then Cousins proceeded to put Meyers Leonard down a couple notches. Explaining that the Blazers were hyping him up to be a defensive stopper and he had, "to send him back to reality" as the mic was cut on CSN's airwaves at the very tail end of the conversation between Christensen and Cousins.

Last night was a moment where if you were against trading Cousins you had enough ammo to build five tanks and load up a whole, entire army. The passion he showed in those final minutes was something different. I can't exactly put my finger on it. But I know it was special. And that's all I can comprehend about last night at this moment. That I know DeMarcus Cousins isn't someone we can just put on the block and trade for people who won't give half the energy he showed in those closing minutes. He's special simply put.