Houston center Yao Ming left the Rockets' game against Indiana on Wednesday night with a cut over his right eye, then returned after getting four stitches.

The Pacers' Troy Murphy hit Yao with his right elbow on a drive to the basket with 5:27 left in the first quarter. No foul was called, but Yao hit the floor and trainer Keith Jones came off the bench to check on him.

Yao walked off the floor with a white towel pressed against the cut.

The Rockets were already playing without Tracy McGrady, who was inactive with a sore left knee. Shane Battier made his first start of the season for the Rockets after missing training camp and Houston's first 15 games with inflammation in his left foot.

Yao returned to the Rockets' bench with about a minute left in the first quarter, wearing a bandage over his eye. He was back on the floor for the start of the second quarter but was unable to prevent a loss for the Rockets.

Danny Granger tipped in his own miss with 13 seconds left and the Pacers rallied from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Rockets 91-90.

Troy Murphy scored 14 of his 21 points in the final quarter as the Pacers snapped a three-game losing streak in Houston. Indiana was out-rebounded 57-44, but held the Rockets to 35 percent shooting (31-of-89).

Luis Scola scored 15 points and matched a career high with 18 rebounds for Houston, which played without injured McGrady. Yao had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets.

(Agencies via China Daily November 28, 2008)