ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Dwight Howard’s teammates say they are already preparing for life without the All-Star center during the playoffs.
Howard was not in the Amway Center on Wednesday night for the Orlando Magic’s home finale against Charlotte. It is the first time in his NBA career Howard wasn’t at least with the team for a regular-season finale.
Under the advice of the doctors who performed his season-ending back surgery last week, Howard is remaining in the Los Angeles area to begin rehabilitation that will last at least three weeks.
It means Howard won’t be able to travel with the team during the playoffs unless something changes.
Howard is set to be reexamined by his doctors sometime this week.
