Orlando suffers bitter Howard blow

Source: Agencies | May 1, 2009, Friday |

Print Edition

DWIGHT Howard was suspended from the Orlando Magic's NBA playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers today for his elbow on center Samuel Dalembert.

The National Basketball Association made the announcement on Wednesday.

The two got tangled up going for a rebound in the first quarter of Game 5 on Tuesday. Replays showed Howard threw an elbow that hit Dalembert above the shoulders. Howard drew a technical foul for the hit.

"I'm very disappointed but I have to respect the NBA's decision," Howard said in a statement.

"I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I have complete faith in my teammates that they will come out and get the job done tomorrow night."

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. Orlando will likely start Marcin Gortat in place of Howard, and J.J. Redick for Lee.

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.

Basketball

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Orlando suffers bitter Howard blow

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