SAN ANTONIO -- Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said he expects guard Patrick Beverley to miss the first 20 games of the season with a left knee injury.
Multiple sources said nothing has been decided regarding possible surgery. Beverley is scheduled to see another doctor in next couple of days.
Beverley has played in just one preseason game before he suffered irritation in the knee.
Losing Beverley is a blow to the Rockets hopes to start him alongside James Harden. But now Eric Gordon most likely will take over as the shooting guard.
Based on the Rockets schedule, the earliest Beverley could return is the first week of December.
D'Antoni and his staff have to make decisions on whether to keep an extra guard on the roster. Pablo Prigioni is the backup point guard to Harden but if Beverley is healthy there might not be a need to keep another guard.
D'Antoni is looking at Tyler Ennis, whom the Rockets acquired in a trade with Milwaukee in September, and Bobby Brown as the extra guard. D'Antoni could also go with a power forward and Kyle Wiltjer seems to be the favorite unless the Rockets claim another player off waivers.
"It complicates things, I hate it for Pat because he works so hard to get ready," D'Antoni said after the Rockets lost their final preseason game, 114-99, to the Spurs. "His weight was great and so on one hand I hate it for him and on the other hand, I hate it for us a lot.
The first 20 games is tough, and it would be nice to have him. He'll be back, so you just make sure he's healthy."
