Chinese center Yao Ming will sit out Houston Rockets' regular season game against Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday with a sore foot.

The six-time NBA All-Star hurt his left foot in Monday's 100-89 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder as he scored 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in 33 minutes.

He underwent tests on Tuesday at a Houston hospital but the result on Wednesday showed no structural damage.

"It's nothing bad," said Yao. "I'm all right, actually. I'll maybe take a few days, maybe one day."

The Rockets' leading scorer, averaging 17 points, however, will be kept out for precautionary reasons.

He missed the final 26 games of last season with a stress fracture in his left foot.

Chuck Hayes will start at center in place of Yao.

(Xinhua News Agency November 20, 2008)