As this year's NBA season comes to a close, two top teams in the Western Conference were dealt with two big blows that can have an effect on their playoff chances during the postseason.

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was missing in the rematch game against the Miami Heat Sunday night after suffering a strained hamstring injury in an early win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Coach Greg Popovich confirmed that the injury may be more severe than initially anticipated and that Ginobili may miss significant time in the playoffs.

"It's more than days," Popovich said. "It's more like weeks, unfortunately. It's a huge blow for us because he's the guy that allows our second team to do what they've been doing all year long. It's a huge loss for that group, and in game situations, it's a tough one because he's one of two guys, he and Tony (Parker), are the creators who make things happen for everybody else on the court.

"It's an unfortunate loss at this point of the season."

The Spurs are the top seed in the Western Conference and have already clinched a playoff berth.

Meanwhile, the No.4 seeded Los Angeles Clippers were also dealt with a major personnel injury as guard Chauncey Billups's availability for the rest of the season is now in question.

Billups, who suffers from a strained right groin injury, isn't expected to play against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, and Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro confirmed Thursday that there isn't a timetable for the shooting guard's return, according to the L.A. Times.

"He's going to be out a little bit," Del Negro said. "I don't know how much. I'll know more (Friday), probably. But I don't expect him around for a while.

"I'm not sure if Chauncey will be out a game, two games, two weeks. I don't know yet. It depends on how he reacts working out."

Billups, 36, has only played in 20 games this season after suffering various injuries.

"We can just never get him healthy, so it's been tough," Del Negro said. "I feel bad for him. We're trying to get some continuity, but it's hard to when he's in one or two games and out with the groin or the back or whatever."

Willie Green will start for Billups

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