Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley has been cleared to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Beverley had a torn meniscus in his right knee on March 27. He reinjured his knee during Game 1 of the series against Portland. In Game 1 Beverley collided with Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge in overtime. After the collision he was limping badly, but stayed in the game until he fouled out. Beverley had an MRI on his knee done on Monday. The MRI showed no new damage to his knee, according to Yahoo Sports, which first reported the news.
“All of us are saddened by the fact that Pat hurt his knee again,” Rockets center Dwight Howard told the Houston Chronicle. “I didn’t want to see anything happen to him … It hurts all of us. We just have to step up here as a team and win it for him.”
The Rockets were concerned about Beverley’s injury. The concern was that the injury was so bad that it would end his season. Game 1 against Portland was just the fourth game back for Beverley since he suffered the torn meniscus. Beverley is a huge part of the Rockets lineup and is one of the best backcourt defenders in the NBA. In the regular season he averaged 10.2 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, according to Sporting News. He had nine points and six rebounds in Game 1.
Portland leads the series 1-0. Game 2 is Wednesday in Houston.