Abdominal Pain Leads Hill to Visit a Specialist

Orlando Magic forward Grant Hill missed Monday’s exhibition at Memphis after traveling to Philadelphia to be evaluated by an abdomen/groin specialist for what the team is calling an abdominal strain.

Magic team doctor Joe Billings said Hill’s MRI exam results showed no obvious tear, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

But Billings said there is “concern” because Hill remains in pain, requiring the trip to see Dr. William Meyers, who has treated the NFL’s Donovan McNabb and baseball’s Nomar Garciaparra and Roy Oswalt.

“If it was a big tear, we would have seen it on the MRI, but there’s concern because he’s still pretty sore,” Billings told the Sentinel.

Coach Brian Hill told the Sentinel, “We want to be as cautious as possible.”

Hill also sat out the Magic’s exhibition victory over Atlanta on Saturday and probably will sit out Thursday’s exhibition finale against Miami.

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After sitting out the first six exhibition games because of a strained right quadriceps, Philadelphia forward Chris Webber says he’s healthy enough to make his debut tonight when the 76ers play host to New York.

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Indiana Pacer center Jeff Foster probably will miss the start of the season for the second year in a row, this time because of a sore Achilles’ tendon, the team said. He sat out the first 17 games last season after off-season hip surgery.

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Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer will sit out tonight’s exhibition against the Lakers because of a strained left hamstring.

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The Chicago Bulls exercised their fourth-year option on guard Kirk Hinrich for the 2006-07 season. In his two seasons with the Bulls, Hinrich has averaged 13.9 points and 6.6 assists.