Suns' Knight out Monday after aggravating ankle injury

The Phoenix Suns got injured point guard Brandon Knight back after an eight-game absence on Sunday, but his return lasted all of three quarters.

Knight aggravated an ankle injury, and is now out again on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Knight appeared to hurt his left ankle on a layup attempt late in the third quarter on Sunday, getting up slowly with the team's trainer nearby. He did not return to the game as the Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away, all but ending the Suns' playoff hopes.

Now four games out of the playoffs with eight left to play – not to mention the Portland Trail Blazers on tap for Monday – there's little reason to rush Knight back, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. He was 1-of-10 from the floor for three points with four assists before exiting Sunday.

In 11 games since joining the Suns from Milwaukee at the trade deadline, Knight has struggled, averaging 13.4 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 35.7 percent from the floor. It's a small sample, but it may serve to depress Knight's market some as a restricted free agent this summer, which is a minor silver lining with the Suns set to narrowly miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Marcus Morris had been getting starts with Knight out as Phoenix switched to a more traditional, one-point guard lineup, a setup that seems likely to continue should Knight miss more time.