While Millsap was on offense Thursday, he was guarded at times by Howard, Chuck Hayes or Yao. Millsap is quicker than the taller Yao. "It's kind of an awkward matchup on both sides," Millsap said.

OK, it didn't work so well when Millsap tried to guard Tracy McGrady, who has quickness over him. McGrady twice drove past him for baskets in 40 seconds, causing Sloan to replace Millsap with Gordan Giricek with 2:26 left in the second quarter.

"I don't think you can really guard either one of them," Millsap said of Yao and McGrady. "You just try your best to contain them. They're going to have their stretches where they go off. They're going to go for 20 a night, so it's just guarding everybody else around them like Shane Battier, Rafer Alston — don't let them get off behind the 3-point line. That's our main thing.

"I feel I've made progress," said Millsap as Game 7 approaches, "and the team's made progress. Any time you come out and bust your tail, good things are going to happen. We've come out with a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of energy, and it's paying off for us, and I hope we continue to do that."

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E-mail: lham@desnews.com