PAINFUL LOSS: Knicks point guard Chauncey Billups clutches his left knee after straining it when driving against the Celtics’ Jermaine O’Neal (above) in the final moments of the Knicks’ 87-85 loss in Game 1 last night, and afterwards said he was unsure of his availability for tomorrow’s Game 2. (REUTERS)
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BOSTON — Chauncey Billups is clueless as to whether he will be available for Game 2.
Billups exited last night’s 87-85 Game 1 loss to the Celtics with 50.7 seconds remaining after crashing to the floor seconds before on a drive. He went straight to the locker room and did not return. The Knicks point guard was diagnosed with a strained left knee.
“I really don’t have a clue,” Billups said of his status for tomorrow night. “I’m in a lot of pain right now, but that’s to be expected.”
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In the locker room, Billups sat on a training table, and put his left leg up on another table. One trainer came over to talk to him, and another rubbed cream on the 34-year-old’s left knee and the area around it. Billups later limped to the podium for his post-game interview.
“We’ve got a couple of days, and I’ll just be treating it as long as I can,” Billups said. “If I can get out there and help any, I’ll be out there. We’ll just have to see.”
It’s a colossal injury for the Knicks, who face a 1-0 series hole and the prospect of Billups being out or physically limited for Game 2.
The veteran floor general was absent for the Knicks’ final possession last night, and they hardly looked in synch. Carmelo Anthony ended up missing a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Anthony, though, said he was confident that his teammate will be able to suit up tomorrow night.
“I see him limping right now in the locker room, but I asked him if he was all right. He said he was cool, so I’m going to go with that,” Anthony said. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be out [today] to get some treatment. But it’s the playoffs. I’m pretty sure he’ll be ready come the next game.”
Billups was hurt when he drove past Rajon Rondo, flipped up a layup attempt and made contact with Celtics center Jermaine O’Neal. Billups went down to the floor under the hoop and was done for the game.
“I just went to the basket and took off on my leg, and it kind of buckled on me,” said Billups, who finished with 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting. “Just kind of gave out on me.”
Billups already was wearing a black compression wrap on the knee, a result of tweaking it in the Knicks’ second-to-last game of the season Tuesday against the Bulls.
mark.hale@nypost.com