Who: Orlando Magic (3-5) vs. Phoenix Suns (3-4).
When: 8 tonight.
Where: Phoenix's America West Arena.
TV, Radio: TNT, UPN-65; WMEL 920 AM, WDBO 580 AM
Starters: Orlando: G Darrell Armstrong, Tracy McGrady; F Grant Hill, Steven Hunter; C Horace Grant. Phoenix: G Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway; F Shawn Marion, Tom Gugliotta; C Jake Voskuhl.
Magic notes: Orlando's five-game, seven-day road trip is off to a dreadful start with consecutive losses to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz. The Magic entered Monday's game ranked second in the NBA in scoring, but fell apart offensively. The Magic shot just 36.6 percent in the 105-98 defeat. ... Tracy McGrady left Monday's game after getting kicked in the shin on a drive to the basket. X-rays taken Tuesday in Phoenix were negative and McGrady is expected to play tonight. However, if he can't play, Mike Miller will start in his place. . . . McGrady made just one of nine shots in the first half Monday, but he scored 12 points in the first five minutes of the third period to give the Magic the lead. He eventually had to leave and Orlando lost the lead for good. He scored 17 points.... Grant Hill looked tentative and unwilling to attack the basket again, missing 13 of his 16 shots. His shooting percentage has fallen to 42.4 percent. McGrady is shooting just 40.3 percent from the floor. ...Pat Garrity continues to struggle with his shot. He's shooting just 35.4 percent overall and 39.5 percent from the 3-point line. ... Orlando is getting little defensively out of its front line. Shaquille O'Neal dominated the Magic inside with 38 points, 18 rebounds and four blocks. Greg Ostertag then had his way with the Magic on Monday, compiling 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks.
Suns notes: Phoenix has gotten off to a slow start with new point guard Stephon Marbury and a healthy Penny Hardaway back in the starting lineup. The Suns took a 3-4 record into Tuesday night's game in Seattle. . . .Hardaway missed all but four games last season with a knee injury. He was benched in the first game of the season after missing all six of his shots and playing poorly on defense. But he then proceeded to lead the Suns in scoring in five of the next six games. Twice, he's had 31 points this season. He's averaging 21.9 points a game while shooting 47.4 percent. ... Hardaway has won both of the games he's played in against the Magic. He played in Orlando from 1993 to 1999, averaging 19 points, 6.3 assists and 4.7 rebounds in 369 games.... Phoenix acquired Marbury in the summer in exchange for Jason Kidd. His scoring is down (18.7 ppg.) and his assists are up (9.3 apg.), but he's struggled defensively in Scott Skiles' system. ... Tom Gugliotta has been a disappointment in Phoenix. His scoring average has plummeted to 8.4 points a game. ... Tony Delk has developed into quite a weapon off the bench for the Suns. He's averaging 12.2 points in just 21.4 minutes a night. ... The Suns are 2-2 at home, beating only Memphis and Atlanta. Their home losses were to Denver and Houston.
Next for the Magic: Thursday, at Denver, 9 p.m. (Pepsi Center)