BOSTON — Chauncey Billups, who missed last night’s Game 2 thriller to the Celtics with a strained left knee and said before tip-off he would have an MRI exam today in New York.
Billups, 34, has not been ruled out of Game 3 Friday in New York, but it does not look very promising, as he was still hobbling in the locker room.
“I don’t know. I’ll find out more [today],” Billups told The Post after the game. “Of course I’m concerned. It’s feeling better today as far as walking and stuff. Hopefully it will continue to get better.”
And if he does return during the series, it would seem highly unlikely he will be close to 100 percent. Billups also has a $14 million option for next season that must be exercised by Knicks team president Donnie Walsh.
The Knicks, who lost 96-93 in Game 2 last night, trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, losing by a combined five points as Billups was joined on the sidelines by Amar’e Stoudemire because of back spasms.
“It is heartbreaking and looking at the potential of what could be,” Billups said. “We should be up 2-0 in this series, even with us being banged up. It hurts.”
According to a medical dictionary, a strain is considered an injury of muscles or tendons in response to a quick tear, twist or pull of a muscle. Pain weakness and muscle spasms are common symptoms. A sprain, however, is related to the ligament and considered more serious.
A person familiar with the situation said Billups might have injured a ligament, which is why the MRI exam will take place. But it does not appear to have structural damage.
Billups told The Post “it could be a ligament, I don’t know.”
“I think it’s possible,” D’Antoni said of Billups playing Friday. “He feels a lot better today than he did yesterday. It depends on how he mends.”
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Knicks owner James Dolan attended last night’s game. He missed Sunday’s Game 1 to be at the Rangers’ first home playoff game in two years.
He elected not to try to fit in both games since he’d have arrived late.
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Landry Fields and Douglas have a combined one playoff start and two playoff games. Before this season, the last time that happened was 2005 with the Bulls — Kirk Hinrich and Chris Duhon started a playoff game together and they had combined for zero playoff experience before that.
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Because Landry Fields provided good defense on Ray Allen in the first half, D’Antoni said before the game he would have more patience with him even if his offense sputters. Fields was scoreless, going 0-for-3 from the field on Sunday.
“I think he’s 22, first game in [the playoffs],” D’Antoni said. “I know Landry and I think he will be fine.”
Despite his expression of support, D’Antoni played Fields for just 15 minutes last night. He was held to four points.
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Toney Douglas got two third-place votes for Sixth Man of the Year.