Magic host Spurs


Who: Orlando Magic (24-23) vs. San Antonio Spurs (29-16).
When: noon, today.
Where: Orlando's TD Waterhouse Centre.
Tickets: Approximately 2,000 remain.
TV, radio: UPN-65; WMEL-AM 920, WDBO-AM 580 AM.
Starters: Orlando -- guards Darrell Armstrong, Tracy McGrady; forwards Mike Miller, Pat Garrity; center Horace Grant. San Antonio -- guards Tony Parker, Stephen Jackson; forwards Tim Duncan, Steve Smith; center David Robinson.
Magic notes: Orlando registered one of its most impressive wins of the season Friday night, defeating the red-hot Pistons 85-83 in Detroit. The Magic dug their way out of an eight-point halftime hole and won despite shooting 37.3 percent from the floor. . . .Tracy McGrady hit a 19-foot jumper in the final seconds to break an 83-all tie. McGrady had missed four potential game-winning shots since joining the Magic. It was a positive finish to an otherwise frustrating night for the star guard. He played just 29 minutes because of foul trouble and scored only 12 points, 12 below his average. . . . Orlando's long-range shooters certainly picked up the slack. Darrell Armstrong (12), Mike Miller (18) and Pat Garrity (10) combined to hit seven 3-pointers. . . . Magic center Horace Grant is expected to return after missing the past two games with an intestinal virus. Without Grant and Patrick Ewing (Achilles' tendinitis), the Magic have had to start 6-foot-8 Don Reid the past two games. . . . Reserve Andrew DeClercq had his finest game of the season Friday, contributing 12 points and eight rebounds. . . . Orlando is 8-18 all-time against the Spurs, but is 6-6 at home. San Antonio has won seven of the past nine meetings, including a 104-89 victory in November.
Spurs notes: San Antonio has looked quite ordinary after opening the season with some torrid play. The Spurs have lost three games in a row and six of their past 10. After leading the division most of the first half of the season, they have fallen behind Dallas and Minnesota, 31/2 games out of first. . . . The Spurs were routed at home Thursday night and then had little energy in an 88-83 loss Friday to Miami. The Spurs were down 16-2 in the first quarter and by as many as 18 before making a late charge. But when the Spurs got close, two missed free throws, three turnovers and just two points in the final 5 minutes doomed them. . . . Tim Duncan has been one of the constants and is having yet another MVP-type of season. He had 29 points and 12 rebounds Friday -- the NBA-best 37th time this season he has registered a double-double. He is sixth in scoring (25.4), first in rebounding (13.0) and third in blocks (2.76). . . . David Robinson signed a two-year, $20 million free-agent contract last summer, but his game has fallen off dramatically this season. He is playing just 28 minutes a night and has been benched often in the fourth quarters of games. His scoring has plummeted to 10.9 points a game, third on the team. . . . Steve Smith, acquired in a n offseason trade for Derek Anderson, leads the NBA in 3-point shooting (52.6 percent). . . .Rookie Tony Parker has slowed down after a fast start. The native of France is averaging 9.9 points a game, but his shooting has dipped to 40.2 percent.
Next for the Magic: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, (Sunshine Network).