Rockets G McGrady to have surgery Tuesday

Feb 24, 2009 - 12:55 PM HOUSTON (Ticker) -- Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady will have season-ending microfracture knee surgery on Tuesday.

The Rockets announced the decision on Monday, three days after the two-time scoring champion told fans via his personal web site that he needed surgery.

Dr. Brian Cole will perform the procedure in Chicago.

McGrady, who has missed 21 games this season due to the injury, had arthroscopic surgery on the knee last May and has not been healthy in the wake of the procedure. He missed most of January for conditioning.

McGrady had played in seven of eight games since returning from those two weeks on the sideline. He missed one game with a sprained ankle.

McGrady, who has yet to make it past the first round of the playoffs in his career, has averaged just 15.6 points this season while shooting a career-low 38.8 percent from the field.

The seven-time All-Star has yet to play a full campaign with Houston thanks to a myriad of injuries. He came the closest in his first season with the team, when he appeared in 78 contests.

The Rockets are 15-6 without McGrady this season.