New Jersey forward Yi Jianlian sprained his left ankle in Nets' 113-93 victory at New York on Saturday in an NBA game.

Yi was helped off the court just nine minutes into the first quarter after the Chinese ace stepped on a rival player's foot.

Yi took an X-ray check and Nets said it revealed negative for any broken bones according, but there was no indication of how long Yi might be sidelined.

It was the third time that Yi was injured in five months following a sprained left ankle and a busted upper lip where he had to take 50 stitches.

Yi, 22, is averaging 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. The 7-foot (2.13m) forward is averaging 9.4 points and 5.7 rebounds a game for his NBA career.