(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-27 09:19

HOUSTON - All-Star center Yao Ming is out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, a stunning blow to the surging Houston Rockets.

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming, of China, speaks at a press conference after it was announced he would not play for the rest of the NBA basketball season due to a stress fracture in his left foot Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 in Houston. [Agencies]

General manager Daryl Morey made the announcement Tuesday, hours before the Rockets put their 12-game winning streak on the line against the Washington Wizards.

Yao was having a terrific season, averaging 22 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.

"It is not an injury we feel he can play with," Rockets team doctor Tom Clanton said. "I've made the recommendation that it be treated surgically and we are working with him to get other opinions just to be certain that that is indeed what should be done."

If Yao chooses surgery, Clanton said, it would involve placing screws across the bone to hold it together. The second option would be to treat it with a cast and crutches. Both options involve a healing time of about four months.

Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11), of China, is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Kris Humphries, left, during the fourth quarter of a basketball game in Houston, in this Dec. 29, 2007 file photo. Yao Ming is out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, a big blow for a Houston Rockets team that has won 12 straight games and is one of the top teams in the Western Conference. [Agencies]

Clanton would not say when Yao could play again, but said he doesn't expect the center to miss the Beijing Olympics in August.

Morey told the team before Tuesday's shootaround, and added he doesn't believe the injury compromises Houston's playoff hopes. The Rockets were 36-20 entering Tuesday's game.

"We've been playing exceptional ball and Yao's been a huge part of that," Morey said. "We feel very confident about our playoff push. We've managed to step up and play well without Yao in the past and coaches and players feel confident that we're going to continue to play well and make the playoffs this year."

Morey acknowledged that it was difficult news to receive when the team has been playing so well.

"It's a pretty big swing from a high to a low, with how we were playing," Morey said. "We feel like our supporting cast is superior to when we played without Yao in the past. We remain ready for the challenge ahead."

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