Just when you thought it couldn't get worse for the Magic, Mike Miller took a fall.

Miller, the Magic's only remaining creator with Grant Hill out for the season and Tracy McGrady out until after Christmas, bruised his lower back with 2 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the first quarter of the Washington Wizards' 93-75 victory Friday night.

He was hurt as he drove to the basket for a layup, and Washington center Brendan Haywood walloped him with a hard foul. Miller fell to the ground awkwardly.

Haywood was whistled for a flagrant foul, but after the game, neither Miller nor Magic Coach Doc Rivers said Haywood was trying to be dirty.

Miller's status for tonight's game in Dallas is unknown, although he said he will play.

"Man, my lower back is hurting, but I'll be all right," Miller said. "I'm going to try to play at Dallas. It's not that big of a deal. It's just one of those things. He didn't do it on purpose. I just landed wrong, straight on my back."

Before being injured, Miller was the best player on the court. That's saying something, considering the Magic were playing against the best player in NBA history. Miller scored eight points in the first quarter and 14 before halftime. Miller grimaced for most of the second quarter but played well.

His back tightened during intermission, and Miller played only five minutes of the third quarter before departing for treatment.

Wizards guard Richard Hamilton left in the first quarter because of a pulled groin. With Hamilton and Miller injured and Michael Jordan struggling, the game turned into a physical but poorly played game.

During the preseason, this was a game fans circled on their calendars -- Jordan's return to Orlando against a rebuilt Magic franchise -- but this was a game far from that dream.

The game devolved to the point where there was booing with 61/2 minutes left. A fan even threw a beer at the end of the game.

There wasn't much the Magic could do without their top three scoring options. They got open shots but missed. When the misses came, players hesitated to shoot again.

"Without Tracy and Mike, . . . there are not going to be great nights," Rivers said.

Rivers hopes to get some minutes out of Miller tonight, because Dallas is one of the most gifted offensive teams in the NBA. The Magic have three days off after tonight's game.

"If Mike can't play, we might have to bring the game to a snail's pace," Rivers joked.

Miller left TD Waterhouse Centre with a little limp in his walk.

"Don't worry about it," he said. "It's fine. At least, I hope."

The Magic can't afford to have him miss any time.

At the end of his postgame news conference, someone asked Rivers what he wanted for Christmas. After this crazy week -- Hill having left-ankle surgery, McGrady leaving to see an Atlanta back specialist Wednesday and Miller departing early Friday -- Rivers' answer was simple.

"I want health," he said.