By Brian Schmitz | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted March 23, 2002

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Orlando Magic star Tracy McGrady won't be carrying his team on his sore back for at least a few days after taking an awkward and frightening fall on the court Friday night.

McGrady wrenched his back and developed spasms after hitting the floor in the second quarter of the Magic's 106-92 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He spent the night at Florida Hospital as a precaution and underwent magnetic resonance imaging, according to club officials. Results of the MRI were negative, and McGrady's back was responding well to muscle relaxers.

Magic Coach Doc Rivers said McGrady, who has been troubled this season by back spasms, would not make the trip with the team for Sunday's game at Milwaukee.

Rivers said he hopes McGrady can rejoin Orlando's playoff run Tuesday night against Chicago at TD Waterhouse Centre.

"Right now," Rivers said, "we really don't know anything."

The Magic are crossing their fingers that McGrady's injury isn't as serious as it looked.

McGrady was driving to the basket when he collided in the air with Hornets forwards George Lynch and Robert "Tractor" Traylor.

His body twisted awkwardly as he crashed to the floor and fell on his left hip. As he lay facedown on the floor surrounded by emergency medical technicians, teammates, Hornets players and coaches at a hushed TD Waterhouse Centre, the concern for him was written all over the face of his mother, Melanise Williford.

And it was written on the faces of the Magic franchise and their fans, who had to wonder if their team is cursed.

The Magic have lost Grant Hill for most of the past two seasons because of surgeries to his left ankle. Hill arrived with McGrady in the summer of 2000 as the club's future cornerstones.

Williford was stationed at the end of a corridor waiting for her son. As McGrady passed by her, strapped to a gurney and en route to the Magic's dressing room, she waved her hands in the air and closed her eyes. She prayed out loud.

"Oh, Lord, Lord, Lord," she said, her voice cracking. "I'm here, baby."

Hill put his arm around her and held her hand as they waited outside the locker room for news.

Hill was hobbling around, his much-publicized ankle encased in a walking boot. Magic guard Mike Miller then hobbled over to comfort her, providing a scene out of some basketball nightmare. Miller has been on the injured list since March 10 with a high left ankle sprain.

A flurry of activity ensued all around them. Owner Rich DeVos, Senior Vice President Julius Erving, General Manager John Gabriel, team doctors and various Magic officials hustled to the team's dressing room to check on their young superstar.

Williford turned her face toward a wall, continuing to pray.

Gabriel soon emerged, explaining to Williford that McGrady's injury didn't appear serious. She shook her head and smiled.

"Any time a player goes down and stays down, you hold your breath," Gabriel said. "The worst-case scenario goes through your head. Tracy's a resilient guy. It wasn't the hit. It was the way he landed and twisted.

"It was scary for him, and it was scary for all of us."

McGrady missed a week during the preseason and three games before Christmas during the regular season with back spasms.

"We can win a championship if we ever have some luck," said Hill. "We haven't had any luck with everybody getting injured, and I'm the biggest culprit."

Brian Schmitz can be reached at bschmitz@orlandosentinel.com.