HOUSTON: 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.