NBA: Clippers dispel Magic in OT, Billups hurt

The visiting Los Angeles Clippers survived a back and forth affair that needed overtime to be decided, beating the hometown Orlando Magic 107-102 Monday (Tuesday, PHL time), but the cost may have been too much to pay. 

 

Veteran guard Chauncey Billups had to be helped off the court with five minutes and 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter due to an Achilles tendon injury.

An MRI test is scheduled for Tuesday in Cleveland, but early reports has the team fearing the worst, specifically, an Achilles tear, that could see him miss 12 months, tweets Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wjonarowski.

 

Down by as much as nine in the fourth quarter, an and-one drive by Jason Richardson handed the Magic a one-point, 94-93 lead with exactly a minute left. Mo Williams missed on the Clippers' next possession, but Caron Butler came up with a steal that gave possession back to LA. 

 

Sent to the line by Magic point guard Jameer Nelson, sophomore power forward Blake Griffin could only tie the game with a split, giving possession back to the Magic with 22 seconds left. 

 

Off a timeout, Nelson missed a 16-footer, allowing the Clippers one last look to win the game in regulation. Unfortunately, Williams missed again, sending the affair into overtime. 

 

Twin triples by Nelson and JJ Redick, compared to a lay-up by Reggie Evans, put the Magic in a dominant position, 100-96, with 2:48 left to play, resulting in Clippers coach Vinnie Del Negro suing for time. 

 

The quick break worked though, as Orlando managed just two more points from that moment on. On the other side of the floor, Chris Paul found Caron Butler twice, and then hit a two-pointer of his own for a 103-100 lead that the Clippers this time kept all the way to the end.

 

Paul led the Clippers with 29 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Griffin notched a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards, while Billups had another 18 to go with three rebounds and three assists before his injury.

Dwight Howard topped the scoring with 33 points and 14 boards in the loss. The backcourt of Jason Richardson and Jameer Nelson combined for 35 points and 15 dimes.

 

If the MRI does confirm a torn Achilles for Billups, the Clippers' backcourt depth would take a huge hit. Aside from Paul, LA has just Mo Williams and Randy Foye in the backcourt. 

 

For the Magic, the loss snapped a three-game winning streak they had put together, following a January that ended with four straight losses. — JVP, GMA News