Magic host Warriors


Who: Orlando Magic vs. Golden State Warriors.
When: 7:30 p.m., today.
Where: Orlando's TD Waterhouse Centre.
Tickets: Approximately 2,000 available; call (800) 4-NBA-TIX.
TV, radio: Sunshine Network; WMEL-AM 920 and WDBO-AM 580.
Starters: Orlando -- guards Darrell Armstrong, Tracy McGrady; forwards Mike Miller, Horace Grant; center Andrew DeClercq. Golden State -- guards Larry Hughes, Jason Richardson; forwards Danny Fortson, Antawn Jamison; center Adonal Foyle.
Magic notes: Orlando returns home tonight following a three-game road trip in New York, Boston and New Jersey. Orlando, which played the Nets Friday night, is just 5-13 this season in back-to-back sets of games. The Magic are 2-7 on the second night of the back-to-back sets. . . .Orlando defeated Golden State 105-100 on Dec. 13 in Oakland. Tracy McGrady had his way with rookies Jason Richardson and Antawn Jamison, posting 40 points. He did it by hitting 19 of 30 shots and with just one free throw. Orlando also got big games from reserves Patrick Ewing (14 points) and Troy Hudson (12 points). . . .Mike Miller is ninth in the NBA in 3-pointers made (62) and 3-pointers attempted (158). . . .Darrell Armstrong ranks in the NBA's top 20 in assists (17th), steals (19th), 3-pointers made (12th) and field goals attempted (eighth). . . .Orlando has defeated Golden State four consecutive times and is 15-11 all-time against the Warriors. The Magic are 9-3 against Golden State in Orlando.
Warriors notes: Golden State started the season strong, but has since slipped back to the bottom of the Pacific Division. The Warriors were 6-5 at one point, but have lost 15 of 21 games since then. They enter tonight's game on a three-game losing streak, including defeats in Cleveland and Charlotte on this road trip. . . .The Warriors lost 114-102 Thursday night in Charlotte before a crowd that was estimated at 1,000 fans. A blizzard in the Charlotte area hampered the crowd. Golden State shot just 38 percent from the floor, while allowing the Hornets to make 56 percent of their shots. Baron Davis riddled the Warriors for a triple-double (28 points, 10 assists, 10 points). . . .Forward Marc Jackson finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last season, but has fallen out of favor this season. He has played in just 15 games and is averaging only 9.3 minutes a night. Jackson turned down a contract offer from Orlando last summer, feeling he would get a more lucrative offer. He signed an offer sheet with Houston, but the Warriors were able to match the deal because he was a restricted free agent. He likely will be traded after Jan. 19, the first day the Warriors can begin shopping him around. . . .Antawn Jamison has struggled this season while playing more small forward. His field goal percentage is at 42.1 percent and his scoring average has plummeted to 18 points a night. . . .Danny Fortson has bounced back nicely from last year's season-ending injury (stress fracture) and is second in the NBA in rebounding (13 rebounds a game).
Next for the Magic: 7:30 p.m. on Monday vs. Boston Celtics (Sunshine Network).