"With Yao Ming available to play only one game of the back-to-back, the Rockets held him out of Saturday's game in San Antonio to match up tonight against the Timberwolves at Toyota Center.

"I felt the matchups with (Darko) Milicic tomorrow are probably better for him (than) when you have to go against (Tony Parker) and (Manu) Ginobili in pick-and-roll after pick-and-roll that this team (San Antonio) throws at you," coach Rick Adelman said. "I don't know if it's right or not."

Adelman said playing the second half of the back-to-back also allows Yao to practice with the team and to rest Monday when there is no practice, though matchups were the primary consideration. Adelman said he does not know when or if the limitations on Yao's availability would be reconsidered or changed.

"I would hope we would keep evaluating it," he said. "So far he has done well as far as not having any injuries or soreness or anything like that."

Yao Ming did not want to disclose whether he would play against the Spurs on Saturday or Timberwolves tonight, though it became obvious when he went through a workout rather than his pregame routine.

But he did say it is especially difficult to sit out with the Rockets looking for their first win of the season. "