Houston Rockets center Yao Ming is expected to be sidelined for at least another two weeks because of a bone bruise in his left ankle, the team said on Friday.

The 2.3-meter Yao injured his ankle during the first quarter of Houston's 91-98 loss to the Washington Wizards on November 10 and has not played since. Team doctor Tom Clanton said on Friday that Yao's left foot is "completely healed and the structural integrity of the foot is intact."

The 30-year-old Chinese missed all of last season after suffering a fractured bone in his left foot and having an operation on the injury. Seven-time All-Star Yao has averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in five games during this campaign with Houston limiting his minutes in an attempt to prevent injury.