"Pistons coach John Kuester is getting more comfortable with playing Tracy McGrady.

McGrady's playing time is gradually increasing, and he goes into tonight's home game against the Lakers coming off a season high in minutes played -- 26 -- in Monday night's 101-97 loss to the Warriors.

McGrady was a main cog for a team that almost overcame a 32-point deficit.

"It felt good; it felt weird," McGrady said after his six-point, five-rebound performance. "It definitely felt weird considering I hadn't been out there in quite some time.

"Getting that feeling back of closing out games ... granted I'm in a different position of what I used to be. I used to have the ball in my hands and making plays and making things happen."

McGrady grabbed an offensive rebound with 47.8 seconds left and made a putback to narrow the deficit to 98-96, but he missed the free throw that followed."