Billups to sit another two games for Knicks

March 9, 2011

foxsports

Knicks point guard Chauncey Billups will miss his fifth straight game Wednesday night at Memphis due to a deep thigh bruise, which has also caused swelling in his knee.

Billups, acquired from Denver by the Knicks last month in the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster deal, said he is also likely to miss Thursday night's game at Dallas.

Billups said the thigh injury, suffered March 1 in a collision with Magic center Dwight Howard, also led to swelling behind his kneecap.

"When I got hit, it shifted my knee,'' Billups said. "I got extra swelling. I'm just treating it.''

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said Billups will definitely return Sunday against Indiana, but Billups would not commit to that when asked by reporters.

Billups said Howard's knee connected with the deepest possible muscle in his thigh.

The 34-year-old, five-time All-Star said he knew immediately after the game that it would be at least a week before he could play again.

"As a guard chasing through screens, I've been kneed numerous times, but that's the worst one I've ever had. I could hardly walk after that game. I was hoping it wasn't two to three weeks. That night I was nervous it would be a long time,'' he said.

The Knicks have won two straight without Billups, with Toney Douglas filling in at point guard, and are 5-3 since the Feb. 22 trade that landed Billups and Anthony.