NBA
McGrady hurts ankle as Magic snaps 2-game skid
By wire services
Published February 29, 2004
ATLANTA - Tracy McGrady scored 26 of his 30 before injuring his right ankle, and the Orlando Magic snapped a two-game skid by beating the Hawks 104-99 Saturday night.
McGrady, the NBA's leader with 27.6 points per game, landed awkwardly on the foot of defender Stephen Jackson after missing a jumper late in the third quarter and immediately began favoring his left foot.
At the other end, McGrady grabbed Bob Sura's jersey for a foul to stop the clock, then left the game.
He came back about three minutes into the fourth quarter but was in obvious pain and went 1-for-3 from the field.
Tyronn Lue scored 19 and DeShawn Stevenson, Drew Gooden and Juwan Howard 12 each for the Magic.
Chris Crawford tied his career high with 27 points, Jackson scored 24 and Jason Terry 23 for the Hawks, who have lost five of six.
Atlanta got within 91-88 on a tip-in by Joel Przybilla with 1:23 left, but he missed a free throw. McGrady then scored his only basket after his injury, a layup after a tough drive, and Orlando hung on.
McGrady scored 23 of the Magic's first 39, and most of his shots came without much pressure. His teammates responded when he left.
Crawford hit a jumper early in the fourth to cut it to 77-74 before Gooden and Lue keyed a 9-2 run that boosted Orlando's lead to 10.
The Hawks signed center Mamadou N'diaye to a second 10-day contract.
LAKERS 122, WIZARDS 110: Kobe Bryant had his first triple double of the season and Shaquille O'Neal had 29 points for visiting Los Angeles.
Bryant had 25 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists and came up big in several key moments. He hit a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to help stop a Washington run, and his alley-oop pass to O'Neal with 6:30 left started an 18-4 run that put the game out of reach.
Wizards swingman Jerry Stackhouse said after the game that he plans to sit out the rest of the season to rest his ailing left knee.
NETS 92, HEAT 86: Kenyon Martin had 18 points, 15 rebounds and a clutch late block in midair as host New Jersey got back on track after losing for the first time under coach Lawrence Frank.
Richard Jefferson added 25 points, and Jason Kidd made four free throws in the final 21.2 seconds to cap a 20-point effort to help the Nets rally from a 10-point halftime deficit.
PACERS 81, 76ERS 74: Jermaine O'Neal had 23 points and eight rebounds and Al Harrington 21 points and nine rebounds to lead host Indiana.
Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson and forward Glenn Robinson did not make the trip. Iverson missed his third straight game with a bruised right shoulder. Robinson was out with a strained right elbow, hurt against Atlanta on Tuesday night.
SPURS 117, NUGGETS 92: Tony Parker picked up the slack for the injured Tim Duncan, scoring a season-high 29 for host San Antonio.
Duncan went on the injured list two days after the two-time MVP injured his leg. The Spurs said Duncan had an irritation of the left patellofemoral joint, where the thigh bone meets the knee. He is expected to miss at least five games.
GRIZZLIES 97, HORNETS 92: James Posey went from being listed as questionable with a leg injury to scoring 24 and helping host Memphis snap a two-game losing streak. The Grizzlies activated rookie forward Theron Smith, out since Nov. 21 with an injured right knee.
MAVS 111, BLAZERS 91: Antoine Walker had 25 points and eight rebounds and Steve Nash 22 points and 11 assists as host Dallas won its fifth in a row.
BULLS 87, WARRIORS 81 (OT): Jamal Crawford scored 27 and Eddy Curry had 26 and 14 rebounds as host Chicago snapped a four-game skid. Golden State rallied from a 64-55 fourth-quarter deficit to tie it at 77 on Erick Dampier's dunk.
PROTEST ENDS: Officials' inside-out shirt protest over the suspension of referee Michael Henderson ended after one day. Officials Dick Bavetta, Tony Brown and Leroy Richardson wore their shirts the conventional way as play resumed in New Jersey Saturday.
BUCKS: Guard Anthony Goldwire signed a 10-day contract to fill in for rookie T.J. Ford, on the injured list with a mild bruise of the spinal cord.
[Last modified February 29, 2004, 01:15:11]
Arena League
Soul satiates Bon Jovi's need
BaseballNew 1B Lee gets three years to help Cubs get over the hump
Phillies letting Bell set own pace
Black History MonthGreat obligations
College basketballAlabama continues to rebound
Pirates pull away from USF
Duke in the way of dream
Spartans' streak at 5
Stanford: 25 in row
UAB tops Golden Eagles
Gators climbing
S.C. St. too much for B-CC
EditorialRant: Tired of innuendo? Prove you're clean and we'll move on
GolfMatch Play's final pits Woods vs. Love
Horse racingFlorida-bred victorious in the Baldwin
In briefDevers double a first
MotorsportsFirst IRL pole for Rice, Rahal
NBABlazerless playoff? Not so fast
McGrady hurts ankle as Magic snaps 2-game skid
NFLCapologists must wear many caps
Adjustments in cap can change the bill
NHLSlapshots
Belfour returns from injury to help end Maple Leafs' losing streak
OutdoorsDaily fishing report
Two boat-racing circuits coming
PrepsBrandon better than ever
Countryside trio grabs elusive prize
Leopard, Ram capture crowns
Plant going to state after a great escape
Berkeley Prep claims state title
Encore for Enriquez: tops in state again
For East Lake, it's better late than ever
It's clear sailing for Clearwater
Lecanto wins as a team
Sports in printFour Times writers rated among the nation's best
Your turn
Letters to the Editor: Pro golf amateurs
RaysTo Gaudin, there is no 'can't'
Tokyo trip may rush Rays' hand
Zambrano gets opening start
BucsConcerns go beyond receivers
Keyshawn weekends in Dallas
LightningLightning's late goal puts away energetic Caps
Modin gets back to 20-goal plateau
