T-Mac may skip exhibition

Bothered by recurring back spasms, Magic guard Tracy McGrady said Thursday night he may not play in the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 10 in Philadelphia. "If my back is feeling like this, I'll miss the all-star game," McGrady said after a 92-87 victory against the Miami Heat. " . . . It's an important game, but my career is more important." McGrady left late in the third quarter, returning in the fourth to act as a decoy. He finished with 17 points.

Oh, Canada

Magic Coach Doc Rivers expects a festive ambiance when his team travels to Toronto to play the Raptors on Sunday. Fans there remain bitter over the free-agent loss of Tracy McGrady two seasons ago, considering it a slap at their national pride.

They showered McGrady with boos -- and debris -- when McGrady returned last season. Although the circumstances might not be as contentious, Rivers is braced for the onslaught.

"That's how it should be," Rivers said. "They should hate your guts but in a respectful way. They hate him because of Canada. That's what that was about. They feel he turned his back on Canada, not the Raptors. They could care less about the Raptors."

Grab a Snickers bar

It might be a while before Magic center Patrick Ewing returns. Ewing was placed on the injured list Jan. 9 because of an injured right Achilles' tendon. "We're going to be very, very careful," Rivers said. "No reason to rush. I know he's not feeling great. He's improving slowly."

The heat is on

Although Miami had won six consecutive games before a 92-87 loss to the Magic on Thursday night, Heat Coach Pat Riley insists this is not the time to start looking at the six games before the all-star break as extra significant. "I don't think we can do that," he said. "I've done that in the past. You pick out blocks of games that you must win or you must play well. . . . When you do that, making plans or setting up goals that we have to win four out of five and we don't, then you're just setting yourself up for failures."

Rivers praises Bucks

Although Rivers doesn't shy away from sniper fire with Milwaukee Coach George Karl, he has no problem giving a resounding "attaboy" to the Bucks. "Milwaukee can beat anybody in the East or West," Rivers said. "Who would want to play them? If you're the Lakers, they face a team that can walk out and throw 120 on you, and there's nothing your defense can do because they're taking them from behind the 3-point line. Shaquille [O'Neal] has no impact on a team like that, except offensively. But defensively, it's not like they're posting anybody."