The described techniques provide for mapping one or more demodulation reference signal (DMRS) patterns to one or more available channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resources. A UE receiving DMRS and CSI-RS signals may determine CSI-RS resources, or reduce its search space for identification of CSI-RS transmissions, based on a DMRS pattern for a transmission. In some cases, a base station may transmit DMRS patterns and a mapping between DMRS patterns and CSI-RS resources to a UE. CSI-RS resources may be configured semi-statically or dynamically by a base station. In some cases, one or more null DMRS patterns may be configured and mapped to CSI-RS resources, and a base station may use a null DMRS pattern for one UE to transmit a DMRS to a different UE, and both UEs may measure channel state information based on an associated CSI-RS transmitted in mapped CSI-RS resources.