Billups achilles injury career threatening

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- With all the expectations heaped on the Los Angeles Clippers following their offseason makeover, they hadn't been faced with a major dose of adversity through the first part of the season. That is about to change. The Clippers overcame a 15-point first-half deficit and got 29 points and eight assists from Chris Paul to outlast the Orlando Magic 107-102 in overtime Monday night. But they may have lost one of the veteran cogs for the foreseeable future after guard Chauncey Billups left in the fourth quarter with a possible left Achilles injury. "It's bittersweet," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We'll have to see what happens. Everybody stepped up, but it's been that kind of season and with Chauncey's situation, we've definitely got to have everybody playing well. "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." Billups was having a huge night, scoring 11 of his 18 points in fourth quarter when he turned to run up the court and buckled to the ground with 5:48 left in the game. He was surrounded by trainers and teammates, but needed assistance on both sides to make it off the court. Griffin also added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers, who have won six of their last seven and snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Magic. Paul said he likes how the team stepped up in Billups' absence, and thinks the Clippers will continue to do so if Billups gets bad news after further evaluation Tuesday. "We've got guys who are battle tested," Paul said. "This shows how much grit and fight we have. We realize if we stick together in a tough environment like this, we are capable of winning games like this." Griffin said avoiding early game mishaps will be of even great importance if Billups is out for the foreseeable future. "We haven't had that kind of response on the road much," he said. "We get down early and then fight our way back multiple times so that's a good sign, but we need to not get down in the first place." Billups played for the Pistons from 2002 to 2009, and helped lead the Pistons to a championship in 2004. He was a major piece in that title run, and was awarded the NBA Finals' MVP for his outstanding play and clutch shooting in the series.