Negative results on McGrady MRI

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The MRI on the hip of star forward Tracy McGrady of Orlando has turned out to be negative, but his playing status has been determined day-to-day.

He suffered a strained right hip late in the first quarter of Monday night's 114-86 loss to the New York Knicks and did not return.

"He tried to work through it but informed me toward the latter part of the first quarter that he was unable to go," said Coach Johnny Davis of McGrady, who did not practice on Tuesday.

"Tracy is the leader, the man, and it really changes things when he goes out," said point guard Rod Strickland. "We have to reinvent ourselves on the fly."

McGrady, in his seventh season out of Mount Zion Christian Academy High School, is the NBA's fourth-leading scorer at 24.4 points per game. He also is averaging 6.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per contest.

He may miss practice for a few more days.