Kings notes: Thornton misses game to be with mother

MILWAUKEE – Marcus Thornton used social media to provide a glimpse into why he hasn't been himself lately.

This was the message on the guard's Instagram account: "Moms not doin too well came back to da crib for a couple days to see bout her everything else is not important right now."

Thornton returned to Louisiana to be with his mother and missed Wednesday's 98-85 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

"I couldn't say, but everyone thought he was unhappy with his time and how he was playing," coach Keith Smart said. "And I just kind of had to go along with that, knowing what was happening and see what it was doing to him."

Thornton had been struggling recently, averaging 8.8 points and shooting 35 percent in his last five games. Until scoring 10 points in Monday's loss at Dallas, he had been under double figures in three consecutive games. His season average is 13.3 points.

"I knew how it was affecting him daily," Smart said. "That's why I didn't say much about him when he didn't get his 20 points. It looked like he wasn't there because he wasn't there."

The Kings leave today for Oklahoma City, where they play the Thunder on Friday.

Smart said Thornton could rejoin the Kings in Oklahoma City, but there would be no rush to get him back with the team.

"For me as a coach, you've got to come back when your mind is right," Smart said.

Dental work – For the second time this season, a King will need to see a dentist after a trip.

Forward Jason Thompson had a tooth chipped after catching an elbow from Milwaukee forward Tobias Harris in the second quarter.

In the season opener at Chicago, point guard Aaron Brooks chipped his tooth when he hit the floor diving for a loose ball.

"A.B, he hit the floor," said Thompson, who grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds. "Mine was in traffic and, of course, nothing led to it. I got my tooth knocked out, and I got to the free-throw line one time. That might explain the difference in the game."

Harris received four stitches in his right elbow.

Getting technical, again – Perhaps frustrated by missing part of his tooth, Thompson was called for his fourth technical foul of the season with 6:52 left in the third quarter for yelling at officials after not getting a foul call.

Thompson also picked up a technical foul Monday.

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