Chauncey Billups injures left Achilles' tendon

With six minutes left in the fourth quarter Monday night, Clippers guard Chauncey Billups lined up a three-point shot, missed it and began to step back on defense. Then he went down. How long he stays down probably wont be known before Tuesday. But his injury clearly took some of the shine off another impressive Clippers victory, this one a 107-102 overtime win over the Orlando Magic in Orlando. Its importance can be measured this way: It ended a nine-game losing streak to the Magic and marked the Clippers fourth consecutive road win, tying a team record. But the injury to Billups, which coach Vinny Del Negro said was to his left Achilles tendon, cant be minimized. A protective boot was put on Billups foot after he was helped into the team dressing room. Del Negro said a full medical evaluation wont be made until Tuesday. Hes got an Achilles injury, Del Negro told Fox Sports West. I dont know the severity of it, but its kind of bittersweet. Well see what happens. At the time Billups departed, the Clippers had taken an 82-74 lead on the strength of his two three-point baskets. But Orlando rallied to tie the game at 91-91, and a shot by Mo Williams with a half second left in regulation didnt fall. Orlando took a four-point lead in overtime, but Caron Butler made two big shots: a jumper with 2:35 to play and, after a Chris Paul steal, a three-pointer that gave LA a 101-100 lead. In the final 40 seconds, the Clippers got critical offensive rebounds from Ryan Gomes and Butler to retain possession, and Paul made two free throws with seven seconds left to secure the win. Butler, who made four three-pointers and finished with 14 points, said the loss of Billups was a signal that everyone had to step up. Billups had 18 points and was 5 of 10 from three-point distance. In the second half, Butler said, we saw one of our captains and leaders go down in Chauncey Billups, and we just had to stay with it continue to move the ball, keep the pressure on them and make big shots in overtime. Certainly, he and Chris Paul, who scored 29 points and had 8 rebounds, did. And so did Blake Griffin, who totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds and showed off a new free-throw setup that could prove to be helpful. Griffin bounced the ball three times at the line before spinning the ball in his hands. That style helped him make 6 of 7 foul shots against the Magic. Previously, he didnt bounce the ball to get into a rhythm and entered the game shooting 48 percent from the line. Dwight Howard had 33 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando, and Jason Richardson added 20 points. The Magic led 30-15 in the first quarter, but the Clippers had strong second and third quarters to get back in the game. LA is now 2-0 on a six-game Grammy trip that continues Wednesday in Cleveland. The Clips are now 5-4 on the road and 15-7 overall, second in the Western Conference. Beating the Magic was a big step toward establishing their credibility, but their focus now has to be on Billups, a proven veteran and exceptional three-point shooter. If hes out for any length of time, it could be a reversal of fortunes the Clippers cant afford.