Expanded role for Gordon

Guard Eric Gordon will be called on as playmaker more.

Though guard Eric Gordon moved into the starting lineup for Wednesday’s preseason game against the Mavericks because of Pat Beverley’s injury, his tougher job might be filling the playmaking role with the Rockets’ second unit.

Coach Mike D’Antoni said he wants to have Gordon or James Harden on the floor at all times, needing Gordon to initiate offense when Harden does not.

“It’s different,” Gordon said of his job when coming off the bench. “You have to be more of a playmaker when he’s out and try to score the basketball. When he’s on the court, it’s easy for everybody. “I just have to knock down shots. A lot of guys can.

“When he’s off the court, it’s a whole different thing. I have to be more aggressive. I’m going to pick and choose. I’ll play a little bit of point, a little bit of two. As long as we make plays for each other, it’ll be easy for everybody. It’s about trying to adjust.

“It’s all about making the right decision, the right plays.”

China jet lag seen as culprit

The Rockets’ fast start Wednesday, in which they led the Mavericks by 18 less than eight minutes into the game, might have been important to send them to a preseason win.

But because it was preseason, it might have been more valuable to show that the offensive struggles of their one preseason loss were the result of jet lag after the return from China as they suspected.

“In my mind, you never want to have excuses,” said forward Ryan Anderson, who went from missing all four of his 3-pointers in Saturday’s loss to Memphis to going 4-of-7 from deep in Wednesday’s win over the Mavericks. “Obviously, through the season, there’s going to be moments when you’re real tired. But how often do you play a game after a trip to China?

“A lot of us, especially myself, wanted to look at that game as a wash. We didn’t even shoot the ball super well (on Wednesday), but defensively, we were pretty sound. This is one of those games we took a step forward for sure.”

The Rockets scored their fewest points of the season in the 106-91 win in Dallas, but they are the top-scoring team of the preseason with the top offensive rating.

“We’re learning each other,” Anderson said. “This is a system we’re going to get a lot of shots up. We’re going to be aggressive. As long as we move the ball in this (Mike) D’Antoni offense, it’s fun. It’s going to be real fun on the offensive end.

“We have to keep working on the defensive end. We just need to continue to bring a presence to work both ends of the court.

“We don’t want to just be an offensive team.”

Beverley options include surgery

Surgery remains an option for guard Pat Beverley (knee), coach Mike D’Antoni said Thursday.

Beverly and guard Pablo Prigioni (shoulder) are out for Friday’s final preseason game against the Spurs.