Yao held out of final preseason game
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-10-29 10:12

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming was held out of the team's final preseason game with the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night due to a hyper-extended left elbow.

Yao injured the elbow early against San Antonio on Wednesday night when he got tangled up under the basket with the Spurs' Rasho Nesterovic going for a rebound.

He left the game but returned to play 25 more minutes and got 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.

An MRI taken on the elbow Thursday revealed a "partial tear" of the ligament, according to team officials. They said he will be evaluated on a daily basis.

Yao went through some light drills Thursday evening with a brace on the elbow.

Houston Waives Zimmerman, Signs Barrett

The Houston Rockets waived guard Derrick Zimmerman on Thursday and signed rookie guard Andre Barrett.

Barrett played in five preseason games with the New York Knicks, who waived him Monday.

Zimmerman averaged just 6.6 minutes in five preseason games with Houston.