As Philadelphia has become a favorite city for Tracy McGrady, so have the 76ers become a favorite opponent for the Orlando Magic.

The film clip of McGrady's spectacular slam-dunk from the NBA All-Star Game last month in Philadelphia has been used by NBC to promote this afternoon's nationally-televised Magic-Sixers game. What has gone unmentioned is that the Magic have taken the last five meetings, most recently a 105-87 rout Feb. 23 in Orlando in which McGrady registered the first triple-double of his career.

Another victory today would clinch the head-to-head season series for the Magic, who stand a half-game ahead of the Sixers for the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference with 17 games remaining.

"I think we've kind of got Philly's number," said McGrady, who had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Sixers in three quarters' worth of work. "We had it last year. We got off to a good start this year. But they're playing good ball now, and we're playing good ball. So toss the ball up and let's go at it."

Magic coach Doc Rivers has several theories as to why his team has dominated the Sixers of late. One is that the energy and quickness of Darrell Armstrong and Troy Hudson matches that of Sixers star Allen Iverson, the NBA's leading scorer this season with a 31.3-point average. Another is that the Magic's outside shooting -- they've made 24 3-pointers in their two wins this year over the Sixers -- forces center Dikembe Mutombo to play further away from the basket than he would prefer.

But Mike Miller, who had been every bit as effective as McGrady against them, will miss his fourth game in a row because of a sprained left ankle. Without him, Rivers might as well take the results from three weeks ago and do with them what Tim Hardaway did to a courtside TV monitor Friday night during the Magic's 124-102 drubbing of the Denver Nuggets.

"They're going to be ready," he said of the Sixers. "They're better than they were that night, I guarantee you. And I don't know if we can be that good. We were great that night."

There haven't been many nights when McGrady hasn't been great, and not just at the offensive end. He had a career-high six steals against the Nuggets and figures to be equally active at trapping Iverson and other members of the Sixers.