The Rockets are 11-5 without Dwight this season. . . .
Two weeks ago, Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets exited a major road game early in the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns. The 11-year veteran has dealt with sever back injuries in recent seasons and will have to miss even more significant time on the hardwood according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
Houston have been bracing themselves to play without Howard over the last week, and finally get insight on how long their big-man will be out of action. While the Rockets haven’t issued a press release statement, remaining numb to the unfortunate news – he’s expected to be absent from the team for the possibility of six weeks.
With James Harden avoiding an injury scare to his knee Saturday against the Detroit Pistons, Houston will need their team captain and role players to play even harder if they want any legit shot at obtaining home-court.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets, while confident that Howard has enough time to bounce back for the regular-season stretch run and playoffs, fear their defensive anchor will be lost for a period of “weeks” as opposed to days.
Howard is still in the process of getting additional consultation from various doctors to determine the best treatment course for the knee.
Yet sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets already acknowledge that a period of rest “likely measured in weeks” will be the minimum requirement before their defensive anchor is ready to the return to the lineup. But sources say Houston nonetheless remains confident that Howard will be able to come back “in plenty of time” to ramp up for the postseason, even if the absence stretches into the six-weeks range.
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