On Monday, there were four injuries that could dramatically impact the NBA playoff picture.
Chief among those was Chauncey Billups, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon suffered in the Clippers bittersweet win over Orlando.
An MRI exam revealed a full tear of the tendon. During the fourth quarter, Billups was trying to stop backpedaling, and he injured himself when he tried to switch direction and run forward. Averaging 15 points and 4 assists, Billups’ numbers will have to be replaced by Mo Williams and Randy Foye.
Teammate Chris Paul had this to say about Billups: “He’s the best guard I have ever started with in the backcourt since I have been in the NBA. I trust him with everything, on and off the court.”
Billups will fly back to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation. No date has been set for surgery.
New York’s Carmelo Anthony also was injured as the Knicks, who are fighting to make the playoffs, were already missing Amar’e Stoudemire due to the death of his brother in a car accident.
After playing less than 6 minutes, the All-Star starter hurt his groin trying to throw an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler in Monday’s 99-88 win over the Utah Jazz. Anthony faked a 3 before the pass and came up hobbling, calling timeout 27 seconds later and never returning.
Anthony’s groin injury is expected to sideline him only for one-to-two weeks.
Ex-Knick and current Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari had a nasty ankle sprain driving to the bucket against Houston in another loss for the injury depleted Nuggets. Fortunately, the chip fracture the X-ray found predates Gallinari’s NBA career.
The 6’10”, 3-point marksman was having a career year for the Nuggets, averaging career highs in points (17) and rebounds (5.2).
Gallinari is expected to miss four weeks. Gallo joins Timofey Mozgov, out for the week (ankle), Nene (heel) and Aaron Afflalo (ankle, toe). The Nuggets are also without Corey Brewer who is mourning the passing of his father. Nene and Afflalo should return Wednesday.
In Chicago’s win over New Jersey on Monday, Derrick Rose left with back spasms. Speaking after the game, Rose revealed he has tendinitis in his legs, an on and off problem since high school. It has forced him to overcompensate, hence the back issues. Although it’s probably the least severe injury of the four he is dealing with, Rose will have to see how he feels on Wednesday when the Bulls play the Hornets.
On January 16th, Rose sat out with a toe injury he felt wasn’t worth playing through, but coach Tom Thibodeau said, “If he says he can go, he’ll go.”