Chris Paul could miss a month for Rockets after bone bruise, per report

Houston may be without their star new addition for a while.

Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul could miss a month with a left knee bone bruise suffered in the season opener against the Golden State Warriors, according to The New York Time’s Marc Stein. Paul won’t play in the Rockets’ home opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, and it seems likely that he’ll miss further time beyond that.

“It’s not a tear or something like that,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters Friday. “It’s a bruise. We just have to make sure he’s 100 percent the next time he plays.”

Paul initially missed the Rockets’ final preseason game after bumping knees in an exhibition game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He played in the season opener against the Warriors, but sat out most of the fourth quarter.

Stein also said that the Rockets plan to be cautious with Paul regardless of the timetable for his return, since Houston has expectations for this season that go beyond the regular season. In the meantime, the Rockets are reportedly shopping for backup point guards who could fill minutes during Paul’s absence, however long it proves to be.