Los Angeles  - Chinese superstar center Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets has a sprained left ankle and will be examined again prior to Sunday's game four of the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Rockets announced that the 7-foot-6-inch (229 centimetre) Yao had a CT scan at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Centre on Saturday morning that confirmed the ankle sprain he suffered in Friday's 108- 94 home loss that gave Los Angeles a 2-1 series lead.

Yao received treatment later Saturday and will be re-examined Sunday by Rockets team physician Dr Tom Clanton. The game starts at 2:30 pm local time.

"I really want to play Sunday," Yao said after game three. "If (the) tests show everything is all right, I will play."

In Houston's road win in game one, Yao banged knees with Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant in the fourth quarter. He briefly left the game but returned to spark the victory, finishing with 28 points and 10 rebounds.

This injury appeared more serious. Yao was visibly limping for most of the fourth quarter and was taken out of the game with 52 seconds to play. He had 19 points and 14 rebounds.

A six-time All-Star, Yao as been plagued by lower leg and foot injuries throughout his career but missed just five games this season. Despite constant double-teams, he is averaging 17.1 points and 10.9 rebounds in the postseason, helping the Rockets reach the second round for the first time since 1997. (dpa)