Rockets' Howard traveling with team but doubtful Saturday

The Houston Rockets' luck without Dwight Howard ran out on Friday, but they may need to rediscover it for Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

While Howard is traveling with the team, he's considered doubtful to play with the strain in his right knee still lingering. Howard has been sidelined since Nov. 17, even receiving a platelet-rich protein injection a week ago to aid with the healing. 

The team is 3-2 in the five game he's missed and just 3-3 without him overall, which is little surprising considering they've been 15.3 points per-100 possessions better with him than without this season.

Tarik Black has been drawing the starts in Howard's place and while unspectacular so far, Friday's 11 points and nine rebounds were a move in the right direction. The team has also leaned on Joey Dorsey for some additional run.

The Rockets will be without Isaiah Canaan and Patrick Beverley at the point on Saturday, and power forward Terrence Jones remains sidelined, so this could be a very shorthanded group taking on the Bucks.