Dwight Howard expects to sit Sunday, play Wednesday

There's probably little sense in rushing a player back from injury to take on the Kobe Bryant-less Los Angeles Lakers.

So have a seat, Dwight Howard, your Houston Rockets have probably got this. Howard said he doesn't expect to play in Sunday's game, but is confident that he'll be able to return Wednesday when the team returns home to face the state-rival Dallas Mavericks.

Howard sprained his right ankle Friday against the Phoenix Suns and was wearing a walking boot after the game.

"I'll be fine," Howard said Sunday.

This will mark the 13th game Howard has missed on the season, with the others coming due to a November knee injury. Thanks to James Harden stepping up in a big way, the team managed to go 8-4 in those contests, even though they're 7.3 points per-100 possessions better with Howard on the floor.

In 32 games, the former Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 16.3 points, 11 rebounds and 1.4 blocks while shooting 57.5 percent from the floor. His absence could loom larger now than it did earlier in the season, when the team had a slightly deeper frontcourt. Only Joey Dorsey and Donatas Motiejunas seem capable of spotting in at center Sunday, but the team could get creative with Josh Smith at the pivot in super-small lineups.