Report: Beverley to undergo scope, D'Antoni predicts 20-game absence

Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley will reportedly undergo a minor surgical procedure on his troublesome left knee next week, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski.

While Wojnarowski reports that Beverley is expected to miss three weeks, Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni had a more skeptical view earlier on Friday, telling reporters that Beverley would miss the first 20 games of the season.

Either way, the absence is far from optimal for the Rockets, as Beverley is their best defender. With the offseason additions of D'Antoni, Ryan Anderson, and Eric Gordon, defense was not a priority. Houston will likely need to purely outscore opponents this season - something that should be entertaining, at the least.

Beverley has battled injuries before, only playing more than 56 games once in his four-year career. Last season he averaged just under 10 points, along with 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game.