Tracy Mcgrady

Tracy McGrady won the duel and the battle, and is halfway to winning the war. It's not just the Larry O'Brien Trophy that's open to all comers this postseason. The floor's open for the title of Most Desirable Player, applications being accepted throughout the playoffs. In this bracket it's Houston's McGrady versus Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki, and right now McGrady is rolling.

The crowd-pleasing baskets by Tracy McGrady were expected. The clutch baskets by Mike James and Jon Barry? Well, that's why McGrady feels so good about his chances of finally winning a playoff series.

A mile above sea level, just a little to the left of America's midsection, the NBA All-Star game has arrived lacking a clear-cut theme. It will be LeBron James' first appearance and Shaquille O'Neal's 12th in the league's showcase event, and in between those two on the frequency meter are 22 other well-deserving players of various shapes and sizes -- though there's nary a Nugget to represent the host team, and no compelling story line to reel in the casual fan. "Whoa, I have no idea.

Tracy McGrady ignored the boos and the angry crowd. And won. Playing in Orlando, Fla., for the first time since his trade last summer, McGrady had 27 points to lead a balanced attack and the Houston Rockets beat the Magic, 108-99, Thursday night. Yao Ming added 20 points, and Bob Sura had 19 points, a season-high 11 rebounds and nine assists. "I didn't want to come out and make it a Tracy McGrady show, jacking up shots and playing outside the offense," said McGrady, who made eight of 21 shots.

Tracy McGrady scooped up a loose ball and made a three-point basket with 1.7 seconds left, helping the Rockets rally from a 10-point deficit in the final minute for an 81-80 victory Thursday night over the San Antonio Spurs at Houston. McGrady scored 13 points in the final 35 seconds, including four three-point shots, to finish with 33 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Tim Duncan had 26 points for San Antonio.

Tracy McGrady stood at midcourt, exhausted from an overtime shootout that seemed more like him against Dirk Nowitzki than the Houston Rockets vs. the Dallas Mavericks. Nowitzki walked to him and they slapped hands and hugged. McGrady said something, and Nowitzki cracked a sly smile. The winner always gets the last laugh, right? The Mavericks won the duel, 113-106, Thursday night at Dallas behind the best game of Nowitzki's career.

After first hinting Friday that Chris Kaman and Kerry Kittles might be ready to come off the injured list and make their season debuts today, Clipper Coach Mike Dunleavy then said it was "probably doubtful" that either would play against the Houston Rockets at Staples Center. Kaman, sidelined because of a sprained left ankle, reiterated that he has targeted a Thursday return against the New Jersey Nets.

In a move that gave Houston a pair to challenge Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant as the NBA's greatest tandem -- or replace them if they break up -- the Rockets acquired Tracy McGrady, the league's leading scorer the last two seasons, to go with 7-foot-5 Yao Ming.

The Orlando Magic wants to keep Tracy McGrady, but the team is willing to trade him if he wants to go. The league scoring champion wants to stay but is demanding some improvements to the NBA's worst team. It's clear that the future of the Magic is cloudy and that the team faces one of the most crucial off-seasons in its 15-year history. "I don't want to leave. I'll be the first to tell you, I don't want to leave," McGrady, 24, said Wednesday in Orlando, Fla.