Rockets guard Pat Beverley makes his season debut after last month's arthroscopic knee surgery, returning to the starting lineup as planned before he developed soreness in his left knee following the first preseason game Oct. 2 against the Shanghai Sharks.
He picked a difficult test for his first game back, against Blazers guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the top-scoring backcourt in the NBA.
"He's going to be a good defender and an extra playmaker on the floor, hopefully shoot 40 percent on 3s," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "His game won't change. He'll just have his hands full with Lillard or McCollum.