LOS ANGELES — Clippers point guard Shaun Livingston will be out eight to 12 months after tearing three of the four ligaments in his left knee while driving to the basket against Charlotte.
"It's probably the most serious injury you can have to the knee," Clippers physician Dr. Tony Daly said Tuesday. "He might miss all of next year."
Livingston had an MRI exam Tuesday which revealed tears in the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and lateral meniscus.
He also dislocated his patella, besides the previously diagnosed dislocation of his tibia-femoral. As a rookie in 2004, he dislocated his right knee.
Livingston was driving to the basket on a fast break Monday night, went up for a layup, and his left knee contorted as he collapsed in pain. A team doctor had to pop his knee back into place to alleviate the pain.
"He came down on the leg without any contact with anybody. It's a freak accident, that's for sure," said Daly, who has rarely seen anything similar in 24 years of practice.
NBA, UNION COMMITTED TO BIG EASY: The NBA and its players' association reiterated their commitment to New Orleans on Tuesday, a day after union director Billy Hunter said he could sue over the league's plans to host its next All-Star game there.
Hunter plans to fly to New Orleans next week for his first visit to the city since Hurricane Katrina, and will meet with city officials and look into accommodations for players and their guests. He also said he has a number of meetings planned with commissioner David Stern to discuss plans for next year's festivities.
On Monday, Hunter told Newsday that, "If the union is not convinced that the city can accommodate the All-Star game, it's an issue that will be subject to litigation between the union and the league."
LEBRON EXPECTING AGAIN: LeBron James will soon fill out his backcourt.
Cleveland's All-Star forward and his girlfriend, Savannah Brinson, are expecting their second child in June, James revealed before the Cavaliers' game Monday night against the New Orleans Hornets.
"On June 17, I think," he said, chuckling. "Don't ask the daddy, ask the mama."
CRAWFORD COULD BE OUT FOR SEASON: Jamal Crawford could miss the rest of the regular season with a stress fracture of his right ankle, leaving the New York Knicks without a key player as they try to make the playoffs.
The injury was revealed after an X-ray Monday and confirmed Tuesday by a CAT scan. The Knicks said that surgery was likely and could force Crawford to miss the remainder of the regular season, though he might be available to return for the playoffs.