Patrick Beverley plays in Game 4 after grandfather's death
HOUSTON -- Rockets guard Patrick Beverley came through with an inspirational performance in Sunday's series-evening victory hours after learning of the death of his grandfather, who helped raise him.
Rheese Morris died earlier Sunday, and Beverley learned the heartbreaking news after waking up from his afternoon nap before Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs. He said he initially intended to book the first possible flight to his hometown of Chicago, but family members persuaded Beverley to play in the game.
Beverley is expected to play in Game 5 on Tuesday, a source told The Undefeated. Beverley missed Monday's practice to travel to Chicago, where a memorial service is set to be held.
On Sunday, Beverely tapped his heart and pointed toward the sky after hitting a 3-pointer for the first points of the game, a gesture he had made several times in the minutes leading up to tipoff. He finished with 10 points, four rebounds and six assists in the 125-104 victory, with the Rockets outscoring the Spurs by 27 during Beverley's 26 minutes.
"I tried to go out there and play as hard as I could for my teammates tonight, man," said Beverley, whose lip curled and voice trembled during his postgame news conference. "It's just tough. I had to be there for my grandmother. That's the only man she knew for the last 26 years. I had to be there for my mom. I had to be there for my cousins back home in Chicago.
"It's just tough, man. It's tough. It's so tough, because everybody knows I work so extremely hard to prove myself each and every night, and to have somebody that was right there supporting me the whole way, wore my jerseys every single day of his life, wore my Russian jerseys every single day of his life, man, to have a person like that taken from you is hard. It's so hard."
Beverley was overcome by emotions while warming up about 90 minutes before the game. He interrupted his pregame routine to sit in a courtside seat and cry, as team personnel consoled him. Beverley sobbed while sitting at his locker and talking on the phone during the pregame media access period.
Once the game started, Beverley was his typical tenacious self, an intense, defensive-minded player whom Houston coach Mike D'Antoni refers to as the Rockets' "heart and soul."
"He's incredible," D'Antoni said of Beverley, a five-year veteran who took a circuitous route through overseas leagues before getting an opportunity in the NBA. "Our prayers go out to his family. We're always with him. He's the guy that you want on the bus when you're going into the alley or if you're trying to find a pickup game or whatever. You want him with you. Whatever you're trying to do, you want Pat.
"He's amazing. He's got amazing spirit and determination. Anybody who goes through the Ukraine and plays, and then Greece and then Russia, and then comes back and carves out the career that he has, he's got enormous heart."
From 2008 to 2013, Beverley played with BC Dnipro in the Ukraine, Olympiacos in Greece and Spartak St. Petersburg in Russia.
Rockets teammates praised Beverley for being able to focus during such a difficult time in his personal life.
"Pat is a tough guy all the way around," Rockets forward Trevor Ariza said. "He's a real, real tough dude. For him to come out and play under these circumstances just says how important this team is to him."
Beverley described Morris as a military man with a big heart, helping raise Beverley and nine of his siblings and cousins after marrying Beverley's grandmother. Beverley indicated that Morris suffered from an extended illness before passing away.
"I'm really a strong guy," Beverley said. "I can deal with a lot of things, but I can't deal with anybody suffering. He suffered, but he's in a better place now."
