Rockets' Howard to miss 3rd straight game Monday vs. Knicks

Well, there goes any hope of a Dwight Howard return Monday at Madison Square Garden.

Howard has been ruled out of the Houston Rockets' game against the New York Knicks, marking the third straight contest Howard will have missed. Earlier on Monday, Howard was reported as a "potential go" by Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, and had been considered questionable for the game.

The All-Star big man underwent a platelet-rich protein injection in his strained right knee last week, and has already sat out games against the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

Howard is averaging 18.8 points, 11.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks through 10 games so far this season. The Rockets have been 18.8 points per-100 possessions better with him on the court than without, although they did stun the Mavs without him.