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Chauncey Billups undergoes surgery on left Achilles tendon

Chauncey Billups

No retirement plans at this time

Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups underwent successful surgery today to repair a torn left Achilles tendon.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Thomas Clanton at The Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado. Billups is expected to remain in Colorado for approximately four weeks following the surgery before returning to Los Angeles to begin the rehabilitation process.

The injury occurred with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter in the Clippers’ 107-102 win in Orlando on February 6th and will sideline Billups for the remainder of the 2011-12 NBA season. In 20 games played this season (20 starts), Billups has tallied 14.9 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 30.4 minutes per game.

He won’t play again during the 2011-12 NBA season. According to several reports, Billups does not plan on retiring and hopes to resume his pro career once he heals.

Pistons forward Jason Maxiell watches diet

Postgame meals in the Pistons’ locker room when the team is on road are a personal trainer’s nightmare.

Fried chicken strips, pizzas and french fries are just a few of the calorie-filled snacks players gorge on well past recommended dining hours.

Jason Maxiell tries to eat healthy, and he credits his fitness coming into training camp as the reason Pistons coach Lawrence Frank routinely calls him “one our most consistent players all season.”

“That’s a setup, right there — can’t do that,” Maxiell said Tuesday of the late-night smorgasbord. “At times when you really want to splurge for yourself on a nice little meal, you got to watch your intake.”

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Chauncey Billups does not plan to retire yet

Clippers guard Chauncey Billups realized his worst fears Tuesday when an MRI exam revealed he has a torn left Achilles’ tendon that will end his first season with the team.

But the 35-year-old Billups doesn’t plan on retiring.

“No, sir. There is no way I’m going to crawl out of the league,” Billups said Tuesday. “I’m going to be back. Trust me.”

Billups was examined at the Cleveland Clinic and he will return to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation. No date has been set for his surgery.

But it is expected that Billups will be sidelined at least eight months while recovering from the injury. “I’ll get it taken care of and get back the best way I can. That’s exactly what I’m going to do,” he said.

His contract with the Clippers runs out after this season. Billups said he wants to return to the Clippers — if the feeling is mutual.

— Reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times

Chauncey Billups out for season with torn left Achilles tendon

Chauncey Billups

Career may be over

Clippers guard Chauncey Billups suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in last night’s 107-102 Clippers’ win in Orlando. The injury, which occurred with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, will sideline Billups for the remainder of the 2011-12 NBA season.

Billups underwent an MRI today at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio which confirmed the injury. He will return to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation. A date for surgery is yet to be determined.

In 20 games played this season (20 starts), Billups has tallied 14.9 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 30.4 minutes per game.

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Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva out at least a few weeks

The Detroit Pistons announced today the following injury update regarding forward Charlie Villanueva.

Following repeated imaging studies as well as multiple consultations from foot and ankle orthopedic surgeons, it has been determined that Charlie Villanueva’s right ankle soreness can be attributed to a resolving posterior tibial tenosynovitis with small talotibal spurs.

A few weeks of partial ankle immobilization have been recommended in an attempt to alleviate the soreness and discomfort.

He will be re-evaluated after that period.

Detroit Pistons sign guard Walker Russell Jr

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has signed guard Walker Russell Jr. from the NBA D-League’s Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Prior to his signing, Russell Jr. led the D-League with 9.9 assists per game and averaged 16.0 points in 16 games for the Mad Ants this season. He recorded seven points/assists double-doubles and dished out a season-high 19 assists to go with 19 points at the Bakersfield Jam (1/9/12). Russell Jr. has recorded 12-plus assists five times and scored 20-plus points four times this season.

Russell Jr. was a member of the Pistons 2011-12 training camp roster before being waived just before the start of the season. He was also a member of the Pistons’ team at the 2007 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and was invited to the New York Knicks’ 2007-08 training camp. A local product from Rochester, MI, he’s the son of former Piston Walker D. Russell. In 17 games last season, he averaged 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 7.9 assists in 37 games with the Mad Ants.

Detroit Pistons plane makes emergency landing in Houston

The Pistons team plane landed safely at Hobby International this afternoon after a hydraulic issue forced emergency personnel to greet the aircraft, according to team spokesman Kevin Grigg, who was not traveling with the team.

TV station KHOU 11 reported that personnel was alerted because an alarm was sounded, signaling the hydraulic issue.

But Grigg said it was a precaution and everyone was safely at the team hotel. Passengers weren’t even aware there was a problem until they were greeted by emergency vehicles.

A Houston Airport System spokesman says the crew of MD-80 displaying the Pistons team logo reported problems with the hydraulics operating the aircraft’s left-side landing gear and declared an emergency.

— Reported by Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press

Rasheed Wallace may seek NBA comeback

Rasheed Wallace is contemplating a comeback to the NBA, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Wallace, who retired after 15 seasons in 2010, has been working out and probing some close league friends about possible destinations to sign for the rest of the season, sources said.

At 6-foot-11, Wallace, 37, had been one of the most versatile and talented power forwards of his era. One league source who has talked with Wallace recently describes him as “serious” about a return to the NBA this season. Nevertheless, no teams contacted by Yahoo! Sports reported that they had any contact with Wallace, or his representative.

— Reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports

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Rookie Brandon Knight quickly gaining experience

When Brandon Knight tries to split a double team too late and smacks into a closed gap, or tries to squeeze an open-court pass that would have gotten there in college, the Detroit Pistons rookie files it into memory.

That is great for the future. There is ample reason to believe that whatever the Pistons’ long-term problems, point guard is not among them.

It also is clear the Pistons need Rodney Stuckey back, or they might not have much of a present.

The Pistons play tonight in Chicago, against the team that started their current slide of three consecutive losses by 16 points or more, something no Detroit team had done since January 1980.

Knight was forced to become the Pistons’ primary point guard midway through Wednesday’s 99-83 loss to the Chicago Bulls and immediately was confronted by Derrick Rose, the NBA’s reigning Most Valuable Player, who isn’t likely to be any easier on the youngster tonight.

— Reported by David Mayo of MLive.com

Jonas Jerebko off to strong start for Pistons

After scoring 17 points in the opener at Indiana, Jonas Jerebko had one of the best games of his career Saturday as the Pistons won their first game of the season. He scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds — one shy of his career high — in a 96-88 victory over the Pacers at The Palace.

Jerebko shot 8-for-14 from the field — including 3 of 4 from 3-point range — and scored 16 points in the first half as Detroit built a 52-44 advantage at the intermission.

“Jonas is great,” said coach Lawrence Frank. “One of the things that was a consistent thing was how hard he worked at rehab. He basically lived with Arnie Kander. It speaks volumes about his dedication to come back from an injury like that. Meeting Jonas and seeing how hard he works you can see why.

“When you look at the two preseason games and now we’ve played four regular-season games, each game he gains more confidence and more rhythm and he looks more and more comfortable out there. That’s an encouraging sign.”

— Reported by Brendan Savage of the Flint Journal