ESPN and the Denver Post are reporting that the Orlando Magic turned down an offer from the Nuggets that would have sent Andre Miller, Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Voshon Lenard to Orlando for Steve Francis.

Francis was acquired by the Magic in the Tracy McGrady trade, but has been problematic of late, as he was unhappy following the trade of Cuttino Mobley and just recently he was late returning to the team after the All-Star break.

Allan Houston has said he is convinced that he?ll return to 100 percent after being inspired by seeing  his ex-Piston teammate Grant Hill recover from injury and return to prominence, even starting in the 2005 All-Star Game.  

?I saw an interview with Grant, and he said a quote that I have in my head all the time," Houston said. "And that is, 'I always believed that I can get better.' I know a lot of people are questioning me and doubting me and criticizing me, but there will be a day - I know it - that I'll be saying the same thing."

Orlando guard Steve Francis was a no show at the Magic's practice on Monday after five days off and after spending Monday morning at his mansion in Houston celebrating his 28th birthday, John Denton from Florida Today is reporting.

Francis claimed he missed his flight, and as a first time offender Magic coach Johnny Davis says he will be fined an undisclosed amount and is expected to start tonight when the Magic host the Indiana Pacers.

"I have no idea if it was because of his birthday or not, but that has nothing to do with his responsibility to the team," Davis said. "People have birthdays every day and they are expected to be at work. He should have been here."

Grant Hill is starting to sing Dwight Howard?s praise after playing with the rookie for 52 regular-season games tagging the 19-year-old as ?The Future.?

"It's gonna happen for Dwight and it's not a matter of if, but when," said Hill, whose locker this season was strategically placed next to Howard's. "Everybody saw what LeBron did from one season to the next and while Dwight is a different kind of player, I think he can make a similar jump. I just tell people, 'Just wait because this kid is going to be really special.' I just hope I'm around long enough to play with him."

The Coach Wooden ?Keys to Life? Award will be presented at the 9th annual 2005 Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, on April 2, 2005, at the Millennium Hotel, in St Louis, MO.

The Finalists for the 2005 ?Keys to Life? Award are Grant Hill (Orlando Magic),  Allan Houston (New York Knicks), Bobby Jones (5-time NBA All Star), and Coach Lorenzo Romar (University of Washington).

The 2005 Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast stands as one of the premier events held during the Final Four weekend for top-level business executives. It will feature, Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix Suns Chairman and CEO and Arizona Diamondbacks Chairman,  Ernie Johnson, Studio Host for ?The Inside Stuff? on TNT, and Clark Kellogg, College Basketball Analyst with CBS Sports.

The Coach Wooden ?Key?s to Life? Award will be presented to a past or present college or professional basketball player or coach, whom best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the court and in the community.  Coach Wooden was selected as the model for this award because his life, on and off the court, personifies the highest level of moral character, integrity, and faith.

Past winners of the Coach Wooden ?Keys to Life Award? include David Robinson, Clark Kellogg, Mark Price , Junior Bridgeman, Jerry Colangelo,  A.C. Green, and  Marv Harshman.

Grant Hill is continuing to show that he is back and that he deserves to be an all-star, scoring a season-high 39 points in 42 minutes of play, in a 99-94 victory over the L.A. Clippers.

The loss is the Clippers six straight.

``I don't expect to do that all the time anymore, but it's nice to know I can still do it once in a while,'' Hill said. ``I really felt like, for the first time, I could do what I want out there, and it's obviously been a long, long time since that happened.''

Allen Iverson had one of those nights where he could execute his will at any moment he wanted, and against the Magic, he elected to execute it for the entire game, scoring a career-high 60 points.

``That's when you get the goose bumps,'' Iverson said. ``You honestly don't really feel it when the shots are going down. You don't ever get the goose bumps until the fans start to appreciate what you're doing out there.''

Iverson's 60 points is the most by a player in a single game this season.

Iverson, averaging an NBA-leading 29.7 points, was 17-of-36 from the field and made 24 of 27 free throws. His previous high was 58 against Houston on Jan. 15, 2002.

``I score a career high and we won the game,'' Iverson said. ``That's how you draw it up in your dreams.''

``I've never witnessed a performance like this,'' Jim O'Brien said. ``This is the greatest performance I've ever witnessed.''

The number one pick in the 2004 draft, Dwight Howard, continued to wow his naysayers turning in another 20+ rebound game last night, making it the 2nd such night of the season, making him the first rookie since Tim Duncan to do so.

Behind Howard?s performance and a near triple-double by snubbed All-Star Stevie ?Franchise? the Orlando Magic defeated the Atlanta Hawks 101-96.

The Orlando Magic have placed center Andrew DeClercq on the Injured List due to a sore right knee, General Manager John Weisbrod announced this afternoon.  DeClercq has played in eight games for Orlando, averaging 1.1 ppg. and 1.3 rpg. in 6.1 minpg.  He missed the first 36 games of the season due to right knee rehabilitation.

In addition, the Magic have activated forward Brandon Hunter.  He has been on the Injured List since Dec. 10 due to a hyperextended right elbow and has missed the last 30 games.  Hunter has appeared in five outings this season, averaging 2.6 ppg. and 1.6 rpg. in 5.2 minpg.  He also missed the first eight games of the season due to right Achilles tendinitis.

Hunter will be in uniform for tonight?s game vs. Atlanta.  Tip-off is 7 p.m. ET.

Jason Richardson scored 11 of his 32 points in the final 3:24, and Warriors defeated the Orlando Magic 113-109 on Tuesday night to finally end a 10-game road losing streak.

``It's been tough for us, because there's a lot of games where we gave a good effort only to come out on the short end,'' said Derek Fisher, who added 25 points. ``It feels good to get this win. A lot of times when your effort isn't rewarded, you start to get down.''

``I reminded the guys we hadn't won here in 13 years,'' said Richardson. ``Guys didn't know that and it really woke them up.''