The two-time scoring champion joined the team practice late Wednesday because of nagging hip and groin injuries. He mainly had some shooting drills.

McGrady, acquired from the Orlando Magic in an off season trade with the similar injury, strained his left right hip and groin midway through the third quarter of Tuesday's game against Memphishere.

"It's a sharp pain with every movement," McGrady told reporters."It's really limiting me. If I feel I can go, I'll be ready to play. But I'm not counting tomorrow out just yet."

The hip and groin started bothering McGrady during Friday's game at Memphis, according to McGrady.

"We'll have to play harder if McGrady can't play Thursday," said Yao Ming."It will make things different."

If McGrady is absent, Bostjan Nachbar may replace him as a starter. Nachba averages 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds this season for the Rockets, who won three straight games and lost two.