ORLANDO – Maybe it was just too good to be true.
After all these years, the lowly Los Angeles Clippers finally had assembled a team ready to challenge for an NBA title, ready to look down on the cross-town Lakers, ready to create their own starring role in the City of Angels.
Just when it looked like the Clippers were creating something that could last, disaster may have struck again.
It is the hard-luck Clippers, after all.
Guard Chauncey Billups, whose veteran savvy brought the glue that made this fast start look like more than a mirage, may have ruptured his left Achilles tendon Monday night in a come-from-behind, overtime victory, 107-102, against the Orlando Magic.
Although the official team statement was a "left Achilles injury," to be further evaluated Tuesday, there was a pall hanging over the locker room that should have been aglow with all they had just accomplished.
Billups left on crutches, wearing a boot, and with body language that said what everyone was thinking. His career might be over. At age 35, in his 15th NBA season, Billups may have hit his last big shot.
"I don't know the severity yet, but it's kind of bittersweet right now," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "I'm sick about it, for him, and for us."
With the victory Monday, the Clippers should have had every reason to celebrate. It marked their fastest start (15-7) in 35 years. The victory will give them a chance Wednesday in Cleveland to win their fifth consecutive road game, matching a franchise record that was set in 1974 when they resided in Buffalo. They have more NBA All-Stars on their roster now (seven) than anyone else in the league.
"There is nothing bittersweet about it," guard Mo Williams said. "Losing Chauncey is all bitter. There is no sweet in here right now. He's out. He's definitely out."
Point guard Chris Paul led the Clippers with 29 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. He was huge in the second half, when the Clippers erased that early, 15-point deficit. It was Paul's arrival, in the trade with New Orleans, and the signing of Billups, that turned this franchise upside down. It has given Blake Griffin the room he needs to operate inside.
"He (Billups) means everything to us," said Paul, who was considerably subdued in his postgame analysis. "He's the best guard I've every played with. He did so much for us, both on the court and off. He brought something to this team that you can't even measure."
Billups, with his one championship in Detroit, has been lauded for his toughness under pressure, his guile, his willingness to take, and make, the big shots.
It was Billups who had just hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help spark the fourth-quarter comeback. But when he missed his fourth 3-point attempt, an awkward-looking shot, he started after the rebound and just collapsed. There was no one near him, catching him by surprise.
He tried to get up quickly as the play moved up court, but he fell again, like his leg wasn't working. Time was called, and he was helped off the court, almost puzzled by what had happened.
"Sometimes, you take a guy like that for granted," Williams said. "You don't know how much you'll miss him until he's gone. We'll have to see. But this is the NBA. It will be time for someone to step up."
Although Williams was the third guard in the rotation behind Paul and Billups, it likely will be Randy Foye who moves into the starting lineup. Billups had 18 points before he left. Griffin had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Williams had nine points.
"It (Billups injury) hurts," Griffin said. "He is a big part of this team. But we have guys who can step up. You never want to see anyone hurt, but you can't do anything about it. You just figure out what is next."
The Magic, meanwhile, got 33 points and 14 rebounds from Dwight Howard. Jason Richardson had 20 points. The Clippers' victory snapped a three-game Magic winning streak.
The Magic had a chance to win in regulation, but Jameer Nelson missed a 15-foot shot from the side with less than a second remaining. Nelson had rebounded from a slow start in his first game back after missing five games with the concussion. He had just two points in the first three quarters, but he led the Magic's fourth-quarter comeback with 10 points in the period.
The Magic jumped ahead by four in overtime when Nelson and J.J. Redick hit back-to-back 3-pointers. But the Clippers proved just how tough they are, even without Billups on the court.
Caron Butler hit a pair of 3-pointers. Paul added another basket. Williams hit a pair of free throws, and the Clippers won their fourth consecutive road game.
"This team has a lot of fight, and a lot of grit," Paul said. "That's something that Chauncey helped bring to this team."
