Chauncey Billups “Could” Return Sunday

Added on Mar 09, 2011 by Scott in

NBA

According to Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni, injured point guard Chauncey Billups will be back in the lineup on Sunday. However, Billups doesn’t seem to share his coach’s optimism. The deep thigh bruise he sustained in last Tuesday’s loss to Orlando is still bothering him, placing his return in doubt.

D’Antoni isn’t a doctor, but he sure sounded like one when speaking to the media today:

“Again, I don’t know if he’ll play or not, but then we play Sunday. So Sunday he’s definitely going to play,” D’Antoni said, putting emphasis on the word “definitely.”

Apparently, this is news to Billups, who was much less emphatic in his assessment:

“I’m not going to definitely say anything, you know what I’m saying?” Billups said. “When I’m able to play, I will play. I will say that.”

Conflicting opinions are always good, especially if you plan to wager a little coin on Sunday’s game with the Pacers. Oh, well. Billups will “definitely” miss tonight’s matchup with Memphis, and probably tomorrow’s clash at Dallas. Maybe having Friday and Saturday off will be enough time for the thigh and knee to heal. Maybe not.

At any rate, the Knicks are 3-1 without Billups, who is averaging 23.3 points and six assists in four starts in New York.

Source: ESPN.com