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Updated: Dec. 18, 2005, 9:45 PM ET
Sore big toe sidelines Yao Ming indefinitely
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- All-Star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets missed his first game of the season and the third of his NBA career Sunday night because of a sore right big toe that will sideline him indefinitely.
Yao Ming
Center
Houston Rockets
Profile 2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 22 19.9 9.0 1.3 50.633 83.688 "It's not a one-game thing," coach Jeff Van Gundy said before the Rockets met the Los Angeles Lakers in the finale of a six-game road trip. "It will probably be a multiple-game thing, whatever that is. We'll know more after he sees the doctor.
"He doesn't miss much. So when he misses, he's hurt."
Yao returned home before Sunday night's game. He has had a problem with his right big toe for some time, missing two preseason games because it was bothering him.
The 25-year-old center has played in 266 regular-season games since joining the Rockets in 2002. Houston returns to action Wednesday night at home against Toronto.
"We can still win," Van Gundy said. "Obviously, your chances are better when you have your better players."
Yao, the leading vote-getter after the first set of returns for this season's All-Star game, had 22 points and seven rebounds in an 89-81 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday that snapped Houston's five-game winning streak. He is averaging 19.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.36 blocked shots.
The Rockets are also without injured guards Rafer Alston, Jon Barry, Bob Sura and Derek Anderson.
"If you have Tracy McGrady on your team and play really hard and smart, you can be in games," Van Gundy said.
The Rockets are 0-8 without McGrady this season. McGrady was averaging 25.1 points in 14 games before Sunday night.
"We just have to go about business as usual," Rockets guard David Wesley said. "It's unfortunate. We've got to find a way to win despite that. It won't be easy."
Van Gundy said Dikembe Mutombo would start in Yao's spot. Mutombo was averaging 10.9 minutes, 1.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20 games.
"I'm ready to go, there's no question about that," the 39-year-old center said. "You don't know when your name is going to be called."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Yao's absence was "a disappointment for our fans."
When Lakers forward Lamar Odom was told Yao wouldn't be playing, he replied: "Good. This is sports, right?"
Odom went on to say he'd be happy facing the San Francisco Giants without Barry Bonds and the Indianapolis Colts without Peyton Manning.
"They've got a great player, though, a great player on the wing who can make shots," Odom said, referring to McGrady. "Mutombo's a warrior and he plays hard."
Updated: Dec. 18, 2005, 9:45 PM ET
Sore big toe sidelines Yao Ming indefinitely
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- All-Star Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets missed his first game of the season and the third of his NBA career Sunday night because of a sore right big toe that will sideline him indefinitely.
Yao Ming
Houston Rockets
Profile 2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT% 22 19.9 9.0 1.3 50.633 83.688 "It's not a one-game thing," coach Jeff Van Gundy said before the Rockets met the Los Angeles Lakers in the finale of a six-game road trip. "It will probably be a multiple-game thing, whatever that is. We'll know more after he sees the doctor.
"He doesn't miss much. So when he misses, he's hurt."
Yao returned home before Sunday night's game. He has had a problem with his right big toe for some time, missing two preseason games because it was bothering him.
The 25-year-old center has played in 266 regular-season games since joining the Rockets in 2002. Houston returns to action Wednesday night at home against Toronto.
"We can still win," Van Gundy said. "Obviously, your chances are better when you have your better players."
Yao, the leading vote-getter after the first set of returns for this season's All-Star game, had 22 points and seven rebounds in an 89-81 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday that snapped Houston's five-game winning streak. He is averaging 19.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.36 blocked shots.
The Rockets are also without injured guards Rafer Alston, Jon Barry, Bob Sura and Derek Anderson.
"If you have Tracy McGrady on your team and play really hard and smart, you can be in games," Van Gundy said.
The Rockets are 0-8 without McGrady this season. McGrady was averaging 25.1 points in 14 games before Sunday night.
"We just have to go about business as usual," Rockets guard David Wesley said. "It's unfortunate. We've got to find a way to win despite that. It won't be easy."
Van Gundy said Dikembe Mutombo would start in Yao's spot. Mutombo was averaging 10.9 minutes, 1.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20 games.
"I'm ready to go, there's no question about that," the 39-year-old center said. "You don't know when your name is going to be called."
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Yao's absence was "a disappointment for our fans."
When Lakers forward Lamar Odom was told Yao wouldn't be playing, he replied: "Good. This is sports, right?"
Odom went on to say he'd be happy facing the San Francisco Giants without Barry Bonds and the Indianapolis Colts without Peyton Manning.
"They've got a great player, though, a great player on the wing who can make shots," Odom said, referring to McGrady. "Mutombo's a warrior and he plays hard."
