http://allsport2u.pinurl.com - Howard has been suspended for Game 6 of the Magic's playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers for his elbow on Sixers center Samuel Dalembert, the NBA announced Wednesday.
The two got tangled up going for a rebound in the first quarter in Game 5 on Tuesday night. Replays showed Howard threw an elbow that hit Dalembert above the shoulders. Howard drew a technical foul for the hit.
Orlando will also be without starting guard Courtney Lee, who suffered a fractured sinus after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Howard later in the quarter. Lee's status for the remainder of the playoffs is uncertain.
The Magic lead the Sixers 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is Thursday. Orlando will likely start Marcin Gortat in place of Howard, and J.J. Redick for Lee.
The Magic were traveling to Philadelphia and were not immediately available to comment.
"Very physical in the paint," Howard said after the Magic's 91-78 win Tuesday night. "It's been very physical in the series. All we can do is hope for the best. It's been a dogfight all series. It wasn't like I was out there trying to hurt anybody."
Howard was having the best playoff series of his career and has been the only consistent Magic player in the postseason. He had 24 points and a career playoff-high 24 rebounds in Tuesday's win, and he's averaged 24 points and 15.8 rebounds in the series.
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)