AUBURN HILLS, MICH. ? Eric Snow doesn’t plan on seeing two backup point guards become the featured matchup in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Tests Wednesday on Snow’s right foot were negative for fractures but showed inflammation of the soft tissues and tendinitis. He said he intends to play tonight against Detroit.

“I just will not know what I’m able to do until I get out there on the court,” Snow said on his cell phone Wednesday night. “If I’m hurting the team, I’ll have to come out of the game.”

The status for Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups is less certain.

Billups sprained his left ankle after scoring his 24th point and landing on Snow’s foot early in the fourth quarter in Detroit’s 98-87 victory Tuesday night.

Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander said the team will not know until today whether Billups will be able to play.

“I worked on him last night for 41/2 hours,” Kander said Wednesday. “He left on crutches. He came in this morning without crutches.

“He’s walking a little like Fred Sanford with a limp,” Kander said, referring to the character played by Redd Foxx on the 1970s television series “Sanford and Son.”

Billups has scored 101 points in his past three games, including 77 in the last two games against Orlando in the first round.

If Billups can’t play, Detroit coach Rick Carlisle said Chucky Atkins would start in his place. If Snow can’t play, former Piston Aaron McKie will start at point guard for the 76ers.

If both reserves start, the 5-foot-11 Atkins likely would defend shooting guard Allen Iverson and the 6-5 McKie probably would defend shooting guard Richard Hamilton, who scored 25 points Tuesday.

“I’ve got big shoes to fill because Chauncey has been great for our team this year,” said Atkins, who scored a basket Tuesday for the first time since Game 5 against Orlando. “He’s been a guy that been scoring a lot of points for us and getting everybody involved.

“We don’t know if he’ll be able to play, so I’ve just got to be ready.”