Houston Rockets guard Patrick Beverley has suffered a torn meniscus, knocking him out indefinitely, according to team officials.

CBSSports.com reports the hard-nosed second-year guard now faces the difficult decision of whether to have the ligaments in his knee repaired, which would keep him sidelined longer, or to have his mensiscus removed, which could get him back on the court within weeks but run the risk of compromising his longterm health.

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The injury couldn't come at a more inopportune time for the Rockets, who are currently 11/2 games out of the fourth seed in the Western conference and the chance to hold a first-round playoff series. Beyond that, Beverley's backup, Jeremy Lin, has been in a terrible shooting slump for much of the second half of the season.

The 25-year-old Beverley is known for his hard-nosed, pressing style and was the man defending Oklahoma City star guard Russell Westbrook last playoff season when he suffered his meniscus injury that ended his season and still has him under a minutes playing restriction.

Patrick Beverely feuding with Damian Lilliard

CBS reports Beverley was hurt during the second quarter of Thursday night's blowout win over Philadelphia. Trainers initially diagnosed the injury as a sprain.

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