Who: Orlando Magic (13-16) vs. Indiana Pacers (16-13).
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Orlando's TD Waterhouse Centre
TV, radio: Sunshine Network; WMEL-AM 920, WDBO-AM 580.
Starters: Orlando -- guards Darrell Armstrong, Tracy McGrady; forwards Mike Miller, Horace Grant; center Andrew DeClercq. Indiana -- guards Jamal Tinsley, Reggie Miller; forwards Jalen Rose, Al Harrington; center Jermaine O'Neal.
Magic notes: Orlando enters this game riding a two-game losing streak, but should be bolstered by the return of standout guard Tracy McGrady tonight. McGrady, the NBA's fifth leading scorer at 26 points a game, has missed the past three games because of a lower back strain. . . . Orlando was downright dreadful in losses to Washington and Dallas. Against Washington, Orlando scored a season-low 75 points and shot 33 percent. The Magic were not much better in Saturday's 102-80 loss in Dallas. They shot 33.3 percent and were down by 17 points at the half. . . . Orlando has led the NBA in scoring most of the season, but has fallen to fourth (101.1 points a game). The Magic are tied for 27th with Indiana in points allowed (98.8 points a game). . . . McGrady's worst game of the season came on Nov. 2 in Indiana. The Pacers held him to 11 points on three of 10 shooting. . . . Point guard Darrell Armstrong is nursing a back injury. His injury necessitated rookie point guard Jeryl Sasser being activated off the injury list. Steven Hunter was placed on the injured list to make room for Sasser.
Pacers notes: Indiana has played particularly well of late, rising to three games above .500. The Pacers have won their past two games and three of their past four. . . . Center Jermaine O'Neal has sparked the improvement by playing some of the best basketball of his career. He was named the Eastern Conference's Player of the Week after averaging 28.5 points, 10 rebounds and 1.7 steals in four games last week. Four Pacers average double figures in points, led by O'Neal's 19.2 a game. . . . Jamal Tinsley has been one of the NBA's most surprising rookies so far. He fell to the bottom of the first round, and Orlando passed on him by selecting Sasser. He is third in the NBA in assists (9.2) and ninth in steals (1.86). He had 14 assists in Saturday's win in Cleveland and he has had 10 double-doubles so far this season. . . . Indiana routed the Magic 117-107 in the second game of the season. Seven Pacers reached double figures and Indiana hit six 3-pointers.
Next for the Magic: Friday, vs. Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. (Sunshine Network).