ORLANDO -- The Los Angeles Clippers should've been celebrating a huge road victory against the Orlando Magic Monday night. Instead the mood in the Clippers' locker room was quiet and subdued as players and coaches worried about the seriousness of an Achilles tendon injury to Chauncey Billups.
Billups hobbled off the Amway Center court with 5:48 left in the fourth quarter after landing awkwardly on his left foot. After lying in pain for about a minute, he put light pressure on his foot as teammates helped him off the court.
He'll be re-evaluated in Tuesday morning. The Clippers had no further updates Monday night.
"It's kind of bittersweet," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said of his team's 107-102 win over the Magic. "I'm sick about it. I'm sick for him. I'm sick for us, but mostly for him and how much he means to us. Hopefully we'll get some good news tomorrow."
Chris Paul, clearly upset after the game, said Billups means "everything" to the Clippers and didn't want to speak too much before receiving solid news about Billups' injury.
"He's the best guard I've ever started with in the backcourt since I've been in the NBA," Paul said. "I trust him with anything, and that's not just on the court. We need him, no question."
When asked if a Billups' injury would affect the Clippers' strategy, Paul answered, "What you think? Yeah, it ain't no secret. We're going to play and hopefully it's not that bad."
Billups wasn't in the locker room after the game.