Grant Hill and the rest of the Orlando Magic practiced Thursday afternoon at Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Mich.

Hill talked at length with reporters afterward and said he was eager to play his first game at the Palace since leaving the Pistons nearly five years ago.

"It's good to be back and, more importantly, to be healthy and playing," said Hill, who has had five surgeries on his left ankle since forcing a sign-and-trade deal with Orlando. "I'm just looking forward to tomorrow and going back and playing against my old team."

Does he expect fans to boo him or cheer him?

"I have no idea," Hill said. "You know, expect the worst and hope for the best, I guess. You know, regardless of what happens, it'll be fun to be back on that court.

"It'll be good to be on that court when it's red, white and blue and not that teal. But it'll be good to be there and see a lot of familiar faces."

Hill's anticipation for tonight's game apparently was lost on some of his teammates, when he tried to share some stories after the Magic landed in Waterford at 2 a.m. Thursday.

"I'm sitting on the bus behind Andrew DeClercq and I'm telling him, 'Yeah, right down on Telegraph, I used to live right down this street right here,' " Hill said. "And I'm telling him, 'Right here is where I got my hair cut,' and he's looking at me like, 'It's 3 o'clock in the morning, man.' "