Yi needs 50 stitches to close cut lip

NEW YORK: Injured New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian is expected to miss at least another week after needing 50 stitches to close a cut upper lip.

Yi was hoping to return on Sunday after missing 15 games with a sprained right knee before he was inadvertently elbowed by teammate Sean Williams while playing 3-on-3 after practice on Saturday.

"Sometimes these things work out for the best," coach Kiki Vandeweghe said before the Nets' game against the Knicks.