INQUIRER Sports

ATLANTA ? Tracy McGrady is keen to return to NBA action, but the Houston Rockets aren't taking any chances with their seven-time All-Star.

McGrady, who had microfracture surgery on his left knee in February, said prior to Friday's game against Atlanta that he's completely recovered.

"Right now, I could play," he said.

But the Rockets believe McGrady needs more time and would risk hurting his knee again if he comes back too soon. The next step is an MRI exam on Monday.

"We have a difference of opinion," Coach Rick Adelman said. "He wants to play. He's not ready to play. It's as simple as that."

Both sides denied a Yahoo! Sports report that the situation produced a heated argument prior to Houston's previous game at Minnesota.

That report cited someone close to McGrady who was not identified.

"I don't know where that came from," McGrady said. "We talked but it was nothing that was reported like that. I mean, screaming and all."

Adelman shrugged off the report as "our world of the Internet."