" The Kings are getting closer to having all their key players back on the court.

Guard Tyreke Evans will visit foot specialist Dr. Richard Ferkel this morning for a follow-up appointment regarding plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Evans, who has missed the past 14 games, underwent three shock-wave treatments for the condition over the previous three weeks.

Coach Paul Westphal said Evans said he "feels good" and can't wait for the OK to stop wearing a walking boot.

"Assuming everything checks out, he'll be cleared to start practicing," Westphal said. "It will probably be a week to 10 days. I'm getting ahead of it because that's not the doctor talking, but that's what we hope he will say, and we have reason to think that will be the way it goes."

Evans is the Kings' leading scorer (18.3 points), even though he played most of the season bothered by the injury.

With Evans out, the Kings traded for New Orleans guard Marcus Thornton, who has become a consistent scorer and had a career-high 42 points in Monday's 129-119 win over the Golden State Warriors.

The Kings also have given Jermaine Taylor more minutes. The second-year guard, acquired from Houston in December, was seldom used before Evans' absence but has shown he can be an effective scorer. Taylor is averaging 10.1 points since Evans was sidelined.

The Kings had one of their guards, Beno Udrih, return to the starting lineup Monday. He missed the previous three games because of the flu."