"Rockets center Yao Ming, after hoping to return from his sprained and bruised left ankle in time to play tonight, was held out of Monday's practice and remains out.

"Every day is closer," Yao said. " It's just not strong enough to support me running, jumping. I think they made the decision based on that."

Yao said he was not given a timetable for his return, but said he will try to practice on Wednesday.

"It's all up to the medical people, what they said," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "They just feel it wasn't the right time."

Second-year guard Jermaine Taylor moved ahead of rookie point guard Ish Smith in the Rockets' rotation and will play in the backcourt off the bench with Courtney Lee sliding over to play the point for stretches behind starter Kyle Lowry."