AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – The Kings arrived in town for practice Monday while Tyreke Evans stayed behind in California to seek a second opinion on his troublesome left knee.

Evans will visit noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Stephen Lombardo in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Lombardo specializes in knees, shoulders and elbows. He also serves as the Los Angeles Lakers' team doctor.

Knee soreness kept Evans out of the lineup most of December. He has missed 12 games total because of the knee.

"He's going to go get his opinions, and he can't do anything until that happens," said Kings coach Keith Smart. "We've just got to find out what's happening with it."

Evans has played in four games since initially bruising his knee Nov. 27 when he bumped knees with Minnesota forward Andrei Kirilenko.

The last game Evans played in was Dec. 16 against Denver. He played just 10 minutes before being pulled from the game.

An MRI in December revealed no structural damage. But Evans hasn't felt his knee was strong enough to compete.

He said last week that if his knee prevented him from playing Sunday against Boston, which it did, he would seek a second opinion.

Still traveling – Guard Marcus Thornton is with the Kings for their four-game trip, though it is uncertain when he will be available to play.

Thornton is in a walking boot after spraining his left ankle in the third quarter of Sunday's win over Boston.

He landed awkwardly after making a three-point shot and being fouled by Celtics guard Jason Terry.

Thornton will not play tonight against the Detroit Pistons.

"It would be a miracle," Smart said of Thornton playing tonight. "He's still ginger, he's still tender. It was amazing that it was just a sprain because it was one of those deals where you might see it broken."

Smart said Thornton's ankle began to swell some more on the flight from Sacramento and he would continue to receive treatment on the trip.

Thornton is officially listed as day-to-day.

Smart does expect to have guard Aaron Brooks back after he practiced Monday evening at the Pistons' practice facility.

Brooks did not dress for Sunday's game because of a sore left ankle.

Shaking off a bad start – After an abysmal start to the season on offense, James Johnson has begun to find his way.

He has scored in double figures in four of the last five games.

After missing his first 11 three-pointers of the season, Johnson has made his last two, including Friday's game winner against the New York Knicks. Johnson is shooting 11 for 16 in his last two games.

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