LA Times--Clippers' Chauncey Billups injures left Achilles' tendon

Chauncey Billups suffered an injury to his left Achilles' tendon Monday night with 5 minutes 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter of the Clippers' game against the Orlando Magic, which was tied, 94-94, at the end of regulation.

Billups was helped to the locker room and did not return to the court. The Clippers said Billups, 35, will be evaluated Tuesday after the team arrives in Cleveland.

Billups had 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. He had made three three-pointers in the period, his last one giving the Clippers an 82-74 lead.

Two plays later, Billups went down after he missed another three-point attempt. He tried to get up, but fell back down on the court.

Blake Griffin made the first of two free throws to tie the score at 94-94. After his second miss, Orlando's Dwight Howard got the rebound with 21.2 seconds left and the Magic called time out.

Jameer Nelson missed a 16-foot jumper with DeAndre Jordan running at him at the end of regulation, and the game went to overtime.

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From a Clippers message board:

ralph kept mentioning it's his Achilles

Chauncey Billups had to be helped off the floor in the fourth quarter of Monday's game with a left Achilles' injury and will not return.

Billups couldn't put any weight and the injury and a quick report emerged that he'll be in a boot. Mo Williams will slide into a full-time role and be an even nicer fantasy play if Billups misses time, which seems likely, and Randy Foye is the favorite to try to reprise the Mo Williams role. It's also possible that VDN decides not to mess with his bench rotation and brings Foye into a starting job. Either way, until the severity of Billups' injury is known, Foye is a speculative, short-term add, though if we're speculating an Achilles' injury could make this a matter of weeks and not days.

Feb. 6 - 9:17 p.m. ET

Source: Clippers TV Crew

 

The Clippers should start Randy Foye who plays surprisingly well as a starter and continue to bring Mo Williams off the bench.

 

Steve Kyler
stevekylerNBA Steve Kyler
To clarify... Chauncey Billups likely tore his Achilles, ending his season if the MRI proves that to be true...
2 minutes ago
Steve Kyler
stevekylerNBA Steve Kyler
Typical recovery time for a torn Achilles is 12-months... Chauncey will be 36 in September.

 

Clippers Lose Billups For The Season?
By Steve Kyler

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The LA Clippers may have lost guard Chauncey Billups for the season. Midway through the 4th quarter in Orlando, Billups went down grasping at his shoe. His Clipper team converged on the court for several minutes before helping Billups to the bench and ultimately carried him to the locker room.

Clipper coach Vinny Del Negro would not offer many details, except to confirm that it was an Achilles injury.

“He’s going to be re-evaluated,” said Del Negro. “He’s got an Achilles injury. I don’t know the severity of it but it’s kind of bittersweet. We will see what happens but we will re-evaluate it tomorrow.”

Many of Billups teammates commented in the locker room that Billups was “done”, hinting that the Achilles was more than a strain and was in fact a full tear.

Billups left the locker room with his foot in a boot and walking with the aid of crutches and did not speak to media.

One of the Clippers coaches commented under his breath that losing Billups was “a damn shame” shaking his head.

Clippers guard Mo Williams said it would be on him and guard Randy Foye to pick up the slack created by Billups’ injury, but pledged that Billups would still be a part of this team, with Williams saying he’d be an extra coach on the bench.

Billups will turn 36 in September, and if the injury is indeed an Achilles tear, he could be sidelined for 12 to 16 months.