SACRAMENTO: DeMarcus Cousins returned to NBA action after battling viral meningitis but his 27 points for Sacramento on Thursday weren’t enough in a 108-107 loss to Milwaukee.

Brandon Knight scored 20 points and O.J. Mayo and Jared Dudley each contributed 19 to lead the Bucks over the Kings, who fell to 0-2 under interim coach Tyrone Corbin, who took over when Michael Malone was sacked this week.

Cousins had a chance to win it in the closing seconds, but was off-target with a jump shot at the final buzzer. In addition to his game-high 27 points he had 11 rebounds, but the Kings suffered their fifth straight defeat.

“(Cousins) did a great job out there in trying to will us to a win,” Corbin said.

While the Kings welcomed their center back, Milwaukee were without theirs. Larry Sanders served a one-game suspension for a level-two Flagrant Foul incurred for shoving Boris Diaw in Wednesday’s loss to Portland.

Bulls 103, Knicks 97: Jimmy Butler scored a career-high 35 points and added seven assists to lead the Chicago Bulls to a win against the New York Knicks.

Chicago (16-9) played without guard Derrick Rose, who was sick, while the Knicks (5-23) were without forward Carmelo Anthony because of a sore left knee.

Pau Gasol added 20 points for the Bulls while Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Knicks with 23 points.

Pelicans 99, Rockets 90: Anthony Davis delivered an exceptional two-way performance as the New Orleans Pelicans fought off the Houston Rockets.

Davis paired 30 points with 14 rebounds while adding five blocks and two steals in carrying the Pelicans (13-12).

Rockets guard James Harden scored 21 points but made just 8-of-23 shots from the floor after performing brilliantly during a recent run of wins for Houston (19-6).

Warriors 114, Thunder 109: Stephen Curry scored six of his game-high 34 points after Oklahoma City took a one-point lead with 2:59 to play, lifting the Golden State Warriors to victory in a game in which Thunder star Kevin Durant missed the second half with an ankle injury.

The Thunder (12-14) had their seven-game winning streak snapped despite getting 33 points and eight assists from point guard Russell Westbrook.

Durant scored 30 points before he charged into Warriors backup center Marreese Speights on a drive to the hoop with 2.4 seconds remaining in the second quarter and did not return.

Golden State improved to 22-3.