Ankle Sprain Knocks Out Yao Ming for at Least One Week

Considering Yao‘s medical history, the Rockets have to be happy with how long their big fella will be out this time around. From the Houston Chronicle: “Hours before the Rockets could exhale a sigh of relief with the MRI on Yao Ming’s left ankle showing no more than ‘a mild sprain,’ they boarded a bus to Conseco Fieldhouse while he limped to a car to take him to his latest round of tests. Optimism, battered by a 1-6 start, sank. The tests confirmed the locker room diagnosis. Yao was scheduled to return to Houston this morning and will miss at least a week. The Rockets went into Thursday worried the day could end with much worse news. But even with the best-case scenario result of one test, the Rockets’ others this season have not gone so well, with the team struggling with changing lineups and failing late in games. They knew they would have to replace their 7-6 center often this season, with Yao limited to no more than 24 minutes per game and barred from playing games on consecutive days. But their renewed hope after Sunday’s win was based in part on Yao’s improved play, with progress in his comeback so significant that talks had begun about changing his playing-time limits.”