Kings' Tyreke Evans productive in return, despite loss

After missing the last three games - and five of the last six - with a sore left knee, Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans returned to action on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Evans was productive in his return to the floor for the Kings, scoring 17 points and adding seven rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes off the bench, but it wasn't enough to avoid a 98-85 loss to the Bucks.

With the win, Milwaukee improved to 11-9 on the season, its best record through the first 20 games of the season since 2005-6.

While Sacramento had Evans back on the floor, they were without center Demarcus Cousins - who was serving a one game suspension for kicking Dallas Mavericks guard O.J. Mayo in the groin - and backup forward Marcus Thornton (personal reasons).

The Kings (7-14), who have lost two in a row, are back in action on friday night on the road against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (18-4). Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. PT.