Who: Orlando Magic (13-14) vs. Washington Wizards (12-12).
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Orlando's TD Waterhouse Centre.
Tickets: Sold out; call 1-800-4-NBA-TIX.
TV, radio: Sunshine Network; WMEL-AM 920, WDBO-AM 580.
Starters: Orlando -- G Darrell Armstrong, Mike Miller; F Monty Williams, Horace Grant; C Andrew DeClercq. Washington -- G Chris Whitney, Michael Jordan; F Richard Hamilton, Popeye Jones; C Jahidi White.
Magic notes: Orlando will once again be without Tracy McGrady tonight because of a back strain he sustained last week in a loss at Seattle. McGrady was sent to Atlanta to see a back specialist Wednesday and will miss the Magic's next two games. Maybe more so than his 26 points a game, Orlando will miss his defense against Michael Jordan. . . . In Orlando's 96-87 victory against Washington on Dec. 1, McGrady held Jordan to a season-low 15 points on just 6-of-19 shooting. . . . McGrady's injury surfaced on the same day Grant Hill had season-ending surgery on his left ankle. Hill had bone spurs removed and the healed fracture on the inside of his ankle fortified in an hour-long surgery. He had a similar surgery last January, and has played just 18 games in two seasons with the Magic. . . . Despite playing without McGrady and the injured Grant Hill, Orlando defeated Utah 98-90 on Wednesday on the strength of its defense. The Magic held the Jazz to 40 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers. . . . Playing with a back injury of his own, Darrell Armstrong had 24 points, nine assists, six rebounds and three steals against the Jazz. He had scored just 19 points in his previous three games.
Wizards notes: Surging Washington will be going for its eighth consecutive victory tonight, something the franchise hasn't accomplished since 1983. The Wizards' seven-game winning streak is their longest since 1995-96 and the franchise hasn't been at .500 this late in a season since 1997. The winning streak has been tempered by the fact the Wizards have beaten just one team with a winning record. But they have won on the road in Houston, Dallas, Memphis and Toronto. . . . Washington routed Atlanta 103-76 on Wednesday night. Jordan missed five of his first six shots, but rebounded to hit 10 of his final 13. He had 23 points, 18 coming in the second quarter. . . . Jordan has taken fewer shots during the winning streak, which has helped others get more involved in the offense. Jordan is 11th in the NBA in scoring (23.5 ppg.), but he's shooting a dismal 40.6 percent from the floor. He's taken the fourth-most shots (537) of any player in the NBA, but is just seventh in shots made (218). . . . Richard Hamilton has benefited greatly from Jordan's deferrals, averaging 25.5 points in his past six games. He's had at least 19 points in all six games. . . . Brendan Haywood was traded by the Magic to Washington this summer for LaRon Profit and a first-round draft pick. He has played exceptionally well in Washington, averaging 9.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks in his past six games. He had a career-high seven blocked shots Wednesday against Atlanta.
Next for the Magic: Saturday at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. (UPN-65). -- John Denton, Florida Today