Dwight Howard to sit out either Sunday or Monday
Despite an uptick in his production and a bump in his minutes, and despite the fact that his Houston Rockets are locked in a four-team Battle Royale for the No. 2 seed in Western Conference, Dwight Howard will sit out one half of the Rockets' final back-to-back of the regular season.
Howard will rest for either Sunday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans or Monday's against the Charlotte Hornets, but doesn't yet know which, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
Howard has been sitting out at least one game in every Rockets' back-to-back since returning from a 26-game absence due to a right knee injury on March 25. In seven games since coming back, he's yet to play more than 26 minutes.
The extra rest days, and the incremental playing time increase, have paid dividends, even if the process has frustrated Howard. His last three games have been his best since returning, and have seen him average 16.7 points and 11 rebounds in just 23.7 minutes per game.
With Donatas Motiejunas out for the season due to a back injury, the Rockets will desperately need a healthy and productive Howard come playoff time.