| | ESPN.com news services
ORLANDO, Fla. -- After spending much of this month trying to restrain
Grant Hill, strongly encouraging him to stay on the
sideline, Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers has given Hill the
go-ahead to begin playing in preseason games.
The Magic play Tuesday at home against New Jersey
and Wednesday at Atlanta.
"He`ll be playing now pretty soon," Rivers said after a
light practice Sunday afternoon. "What I`ve seen lately is
really encouraging. I don`t see the limping anymore. He
looks better than he has since he arrived here. He may
be ready."
Hill, acquired from Detroit in a trade that sent Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins to the Pistons, is coming off offseason surgery to repair a broken bone in his left foot. He injured the foot in the first round of the 2000 playoffs, and plans to play his first season in a Magic uniform with five screws and a metal plate supporting his ankle.
Hill, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 25.8 points per game last season in 74 games with the Pistons.
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