It's hard to imagine a victory feeling this empty.

The Orlando Magic snapped a three-game losing streak Tuesday night, but it came with the realization that their biggest and last game of the regular season tonight will be played without their two best players.

The Magic still can secure the No. 4 playoff seed and home-court advantage in the first round, but they must beat the Miami Heat with Tracy McGrady, hampered by a sore back, and Mike Miller, on the injured list with a sprained left ankle, dressed in street clothes.

If the Magic lose -- which is a distinct possibility without McGrady -- they could fall to the fifth or sixth spot, leaving them to open the postseason in Charlotte, Philadelphia or Boston.

"It's really unsettling right now," said Magic Coach Doc Rivers. "But we've been faced with this injury problem all year, so maybe it's appropriate that we take it all the way to the end."

The Magic beat the Atlanta Hawks 102-95, but the sight of McGrady limping off the court with back problems sucked all the joy from the victory.

"I don't think there's any way Tracy will play [against Miami]," said Rivers. "It would take a miracle right now. It would be great to get home court. It's important, but I'd rather have him healthy again, even if it means being on the road."

The Magic (44-37) could have clinched the home court Tuesday -- and happily rested everyone tonight -- if the Heat had defeated the Hornets on Tuesday in Miami. But instead, Miami let an 11-point second-half lead slip away in an 88-81 loss, muddling the playoff picture.

If the Magic lose tonight, and both Charlotte and Philadelphia win, they would end in a three-way tie, pushing the Magic all the way to No. 6 and a trip to Boston to open the playoffs.

Monty Williams, starting in place of Miller again, led the Magic on Tuesday with a season-high 23 points and seven rebounds. McGrady finished with 16 points and seven assists. Although he looked fine at the start, his back stiffened as the game progressed.

"I don't want to go out there and run like I was running the last couple minutes of this game," McGrady said. "I think Saturday or Sunday [possibly the playoffs] is more important."

The Magic have lost three of their past four games.

"This is what happens when you don't play well at the end of the regular season," said Horace Grant, who had seven rebounds and two points.

It started when Reid clotheslined Terry on a drive to the basket. And when Reid turned to walk away, Terry punched him in the back of the head, sending Reid into a brief fury as he tried to retaliate.

Reid was called for a Flagrant II foul and ejected. Terry was ejected for the punch. Reid should be available for tonight's game.

Although Rivers defended Reid on the play, saying it was just a good, hard foul that ended wrong, Terry was livid after the game, vowing to get even the next time they play.

"If I wanted to play for the Falcons, I would have signed up for it," Terry said. "He tried to take me out. He could have grabbed me and made sure I didn't fall."

When Terry was told that Reid said he got mostly ball on the play, he got even more upset.

"That's OK, I got all head [on the punch]," he said. "It was a dirty play all around. For me, whenever I see him again, it's going to be personal."