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Rockets' Beverley aiming for mid-November return

Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Houston Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley knows only one speed, and that apparently applies as much to his surgery rehab as it does his play.

Beverley had his bothersome left knee scoped Oct. 25, and though Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni expected him to miss 20 games, Beverley told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle he's aiming to return Nov. 16 - a day after he's slated to be re-evaluated - and no later than Nov. 21. That would mean missing as few as 10 games, and no more than 13.

"I'm doing well," Beverley said. "I have about 10 to 15 days to go. I feel good, the knee feels good. I've been working out. Now, it's back to practicing and hoping to play soon."

Beverley averaged 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 steals last season, while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range. D'Antoni declared James Harden the Rockets' nominal point guard, but Beverley was still projected to start as an off-ball guard who'd draw the toughest defensive backcourt assignment each night.

Having to watch his team, instead of participating, has been tough on Beverley.

"Even more difficult (when) you can't get out there and participate in a night like tonight, the home opener," Beverley said after the Rockets edged the Dallas Mavericks, 93-92, in their first game of the season at Toyota Center. "At the same time, have to be professional, have to think about the long term of any injury and how it would affect you and the basketball team. It's important for me to get healthy now. They're going to need me in May, not right now."

Still, Beverley is intent on returning to game action on his own timeline. Asked if he was ahead of schedule in his recovery, he said, "Always."

Maybe he was right to grouse about being left off the "toughest players" list in this year's GM survey.

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