Magic at Bulls

Who: Orlando Magic (29-26) vs. Chicago Bulls (15-40).
When: 8:30 p.m. today.
Where: Chicago's United Center.
TV, radio: UPN-65; WMEL-AM 920, WDBO-AM 580.
Starters: Orlando -- guards Darrell Armstrong, Tracy McGrady; forwards Mike Miller, Pat Garrity; center Horace Grant. Chicago -- guards A.J. Guyton, Trenton Hassell; forwards Jalen Rose, Tyson Chandler; center Eddy Curry.
Magic notes: Orlando began its 11-day, seven-game roadtrip in dreadful fashion Sunday night. Not only did the Magic lose 111-96 in Cleveland, but they also lost Tracy McGrady and Pat Garrity to injuries. McGrady missed the game because of a sore right foot he originally injured late in Saturday's game when he landed on Dikembe Mutombo's foot. X-rays before Sunday's game were negative, but McGrady was held out for precautionary reasons. Garrity likely is to return tonight after missing Sunday's game with a deep thigh bruise. He suffered the injury late in the first quarter of Saturday's home win against Philadelphia, but returned to the game. . . . With McGrady and Garrity out, the Magic were without 35.2 points a game. But scoring was not a problem against Cleveland. Instead it was rebounding as the Cavs pounded the Magic in the glass, 55-28. . . . Troy Hudson continued his remarkable improvement from last season, scoring a team-high 24 points. He has boosted his scoring average to 9.9 points a game. He also ranks fifth in the NBA in free-throw shooting (89.3 percent). . . . The Magic defeated Chicago 102-74 in December in Orlando. Mike Miller helped offset an off night from McGrady (14 points) with a game-high 21 points. Orlando has won 11 of the past 12 games against Chicago. The lone loss came last November in Chicago. . . . This is the longest roadtrip in franchise history. Orlando plays in Toronto (Wednesday), Detroit (Friday), Washington (March 3), Indiana (March 5) and Boston (March 6). Then, 14 of their final 21 games will be played at home.
Bulls notes: Chicago enters this game having won three games in a row for the first time since Jan. 8, 2000. Also, it has won three in a row at the United Center for the first time since April 11, 1998. The Bulls' 15 wins match last season's total and have pulled them even with Golden State and Memphis. . . . Chicago dramatically altered its team last week, trading Brad Miller, Ron Artest and Ron Mercer to Indiana for Jalen Rose and Travis Best. In his three games with the Bulls, Rose has averaged 24.3 points. However, he has made just 27 of 60 shots. Best, still coming off the bench, has played well. He has made 57.7 percent of his shots and is averaging 11.3 points and six assists in three games. . . . Power forward Marcus Fizer was the star of Saturday's 105-91 victory against Golden State. He came off the bench and made 13 of 24 shots for a game-high 30 points. . . . Rookies Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry have shown some progress of late and both now are starters. Chandler had 14 points and seven rebounds in Saturday's win. The 7-foot, 300-pound Curry had nine points and eight rebounds in the victory.
Next for the Magic: Wednesday, at Toronto Raptors, 8 p.m. (UPN-65, TNT).