McGrady unsure of New Orleans

Houston Rockets swingman Tracy McGrady said Wednesday he would consider skipping next year’s All-Star game if he felt he wouldn’t be safe in New Orleans.

“I don’t think it’s the right city to have this type of event right now,” McGrady said.

“If I don’t feel that I’m going to be safe, if I am on that team, I will look into probably not even going.”

McGrady’s comments came two days after players union director Billy Hunter also raised concerns about the event, which he backed away from on Tuesday.

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Boston Celtics forward Wally Szczerbiak will have season-ending ankle surgery next week, the team said.

Meanwhile, Celtics radio analyst Cedric Maxwell apologized on the air before Wednesday’s game against New York for saying that referee Violet Palmer should “go back to the kitchen” after he disagreed with one of her calls Monday at Houston.

He subsequently said “Go in there and make me some bacon and eggs, would you?” in reference to Palmer.

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Deon Willford, who hit Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Jackson with a car during a fight outside a strip club last fall, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Willford, 23, was convicted Feb. 12 of felony battery and a misdemeanor charge of failure to stop at the scene of an accident.