"Chauncey Billups is "praying for a miracle" that he'll be healthy enough to play again in the series.

Billups, who missed his second straight game Friday night with a strained left knee, did not sound optimistic that he'll be ready in time for Game 4 Sunday. If the best-of-seven series goes the distance, Game 7 will be played a week from Sunday in Boston. Asked if that would be enough time for him to return, Billups said, "I think it's maybe a chance. But I don't know that to be 100% true. I'll just go day to day and hopefully the cortisone hasn't kicked in yet. But that's just me. I'm praying for a miracle."

Billups had blood drained from his knee on Thursday and has not been able to run since leaving Game 1 in the final minute.

"It's so frustrating coming here and knowing I can't play today, it's tough," he added. "It's the time of season I live for. I'm just trying to do the best I can do to get back on the floor but it's simply not ready.""