Tyreke Evans’ troublesome left knee was bothering him before the Kings’ 122-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, but the guard tried to play on it anyway.

The experiment lasted less than a quarter, as Evans departed with 1:38 remaining in the first quarter because of knee soreness and did not return.

Evans has missed five games since injuring the knee Nov. 27 against Minnesota.

“I saw the way he was dragging it (in the game),” coach Keith Smartsaid. “It just wasn’t working for him.”

via Matt Kawahara of The Sacramento Bee