The Houston Rockets are expecting Dwight Howard to be off the court for at least a month due to continuing issues with his right knee.
Despite more time being spent sidelined, the Rockets are almost certain Howard will be back healthy in time for the final stages of the regular season and the playoffs - even if he spends six weeks sidelined - league sources told ESPN.com.
A buildup of fluids in his right knee is what kept Dwight Howard off the court during the Rockets’ trips to Detroit and Boston this weekend; Howard didn’t even travel with the team to either game. Coach Kevin McHale told reporters on Friday that he doesn’t foresee Howard “to be here for a while.”
This isn’t the first the knee has troubled the Rockets’ defensive anchor during the 2014/15 season. In fact, it’s saw him miss 11 games earlier this season. Despite him having this persistent injury trouble, his team have stuck in the top-four of the Western Conference all season. So far this year, Howard, is averaging 16.3 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. Those numbers are much lower than what can be expected from the 29 year old, as this season is, as it stands now, his worst season in almost a decade across a handful of categories. His 11 rebounds per game is his lowest since 2004-05 - his rookie season in the NBA.
As reported by NBA.com, the Rockets dodged another bullet when the league’s leading scorer James Harden fell to the floor in the first half Saturday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills against the Detroit Pistons; he sustained a bone bruise in his left knee, but ended up returning in the second half, for his team’s 112-101 loss to the Pistons.
Howard also saw an eight-year streak of All-Star Game appearances come to an end this week, after he was not added to the Western Conference team by vote of the coaches.
In the 16 games that the Houston Rockets have played without their starting center Howard on the court, they are 11-5.