Report: Patrick Beverley has a torn meniscus, timetable unclear

Houston Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley has suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee, according to a report from Yahoo Sports.

A timetable is not yet clear for Beverley, but is expected to be determined following a second opinion on the knee. Should Beverley only require rehabilitation, it's possible he could return at some point during the playoffs.

The more likely scenario is that Beverley is done for the season, and he now faces a tough decision that Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose have both had to face in the past year: repair the meniscus, which improves long-term stability, or remove it, which means a quicker recovery time.

In 53 games this season, the sophomore has averaged 9.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 31.3 minutes, having usurped Jeremy Lin for the starting gig. While Beverley shoots just 40.7 percent overall, his 35.7 percent mark from long range makes him a valuable floor-spacer in the Rockets offense.

His absence will be felt far more on the defensive end, however, as the defensive drop-off from Beverley to Lin is significant.

Lin should more than hold his own as a replacement on offense, however. In 61 games split between the starting lineup and the bench, Lin is averaging 12.4 points and 4.2 assists, checking in at just a shade below the league average in player efficiency rating with a mark of 14.5. His greatest skill is his ability to get to the line, which makes up for the fact that he's an average 3-point shooter at best.

Obviously, this news is a major blow to the playoff-bound Rockets, who may now have to rely on unproven rookie Isaiah Canaan to handle back-up point guard duties.