ROUND 2?

Tracy McGrady wasn't looking past the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night but is making no attempt to downplay the emotional build-up to the Orlando Magic's home game tonight against the New Jersey Nets.

Although the Nets have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 23-11, McGrady is more fired up about facing Kenyon Martin again. The Nets' second-year forward drew a two-game suspension from the NBA after knocking McGrady to the floor with a flagrant foul last Friday night during the fourth quarter of the Magic's 109-96 victory at New Jersey.

"Yeah, it's going to be motivation. Are you kidding me?" McGrady said. "The guy tried to take my head off. You don't think I'm going to use that as motivation when he's coming into my gym? I hope the team takes that as motivation."

McGrady scored 35 points, most of them with Martin trying to guard him, before he was ejected for retaliating despite not throwing a punch. He had 26 points and played all 48 minutes Wednesday night in the win at Philadelphia while bothered by a sore groin not related to the incident.

"Once the game gets going, it starts to loosen up," he said. "But at the end of the game, it feels like somebody shot me in my butt."

MAGIC'S 11

The Magic went with only 11 players in uniform for the second game in a row. Patrick Ewing remains on their injured list with tendinitis in his right calf and Achilles tendon, but he does not have to sit out a minimum of five games unless the Magic activate rookie guard Jeryl Sasser or sign another player to a 10-day contract.

For now, general manager John Gabriel is leaning toward not bringing in another center on a trial basis. That could change if Ewing doesn't show signs of healing by the end of the weekend.

Horace Grant, who moved over from power forward to center because of Ewing's injury, has recovered from the flu which caused him to get violently ill twice Monday night against the Boston Celtics.

"I think I gave it to the trainer," Grant said, noting that Ted Arzonico appeared to be under the weather.

FIRST INVITEE

Mike Miller is the first member of the Magic assured of taking part next month in the events leading up to the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. The reigning Rookie of the Year has been chosen to play in the Rookie Challenge, which consists of a team of first-year pros facing one of second-year players in two 20-minute halves.

McGrady remains a distant third behind Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson in voting for the East's starting guards. Grant Hill, who has not played since Nov. 26, has been overtaken as the second-leading vote-getting among forwards in the conference by Antoine Walker.