"While Yao Ming has set early next week as his target date to return, Rockets coach Rick Adelman said Thursday he wants to see how Yao responds to a full workout before any decision is made.

Yao, who has been sidelined more than three weeks with a sprained and bruised left ankle, went through a light workout Thursday at Toyota Center. The latest step in returning to the lineup came a day after the 7-6 center participated in the team's shootaround Wednesday, the first time he had been on the court since he suffered the injury Nov. 10 in Washington.

Before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Yao told reporters he is targeting Tuesday's game against the Detroit Pistons for his return. Adelman said he hasn't discussed specifics on a return date with Yao.

"Yao said that, but no one else told me that," Adelman said. "He didn't tell me."

A limited workout

Yao did not run extensively or participate in any contact drills Thursday. At the end of practice, Yao worked on low post moves, spins and pivots, with teammate Jordan Hill.

"We're just trying to get him on the court where he's moving around and see how he feels afterwards," Adelman said. "The big key is going to be the more he gets on the court, the more things he does, does he have soreness, doesn't he have soreness. That's the thing I want to wait and see.""