"Rockets center Yao Ming did not travel with the team to Oklahoma City for tonight's game and will not be in Toronto for Friday's game, making Monday's game against Phoenix the earliest he could come back from his sprained left ankle.

Yao sprained his ankle against Washington last Wednesday. The Rockets said he would be out for a minimum of a week. He said Tuesday it would take "about another week" to return.

"It's pretty simple," Yao said. "We just wait for the feeling to get normal, no soreness and (when) I can push off with no soreness or pain. At that time, I will come back to the court. It's all about the ankle. It's improving."

Rockets guard Chase Budinger did some light shooting Tuesday and plans to test his recovery from a sprained left ankle today with the hopes of playing Friday in Toronto.

"It's all right," Budinger said. "It's a little sore, a little swollen. The biggest key is getting the soreness out and stretching it out. We're thinking probably Friday (to return).""