Lakers C Howard's shoulder injury flares up
Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard reaggravated a shoulder injury that kept him out of three games in January and is listed as day to day after being evaluated Thursday by the training staff.
Howard left the Lakers' 92-86 loss on Wednesday night to Phoenix with 6:56 to play and never returned after his shot was blocked by Shannon Brown. The All-Star said he felt numbness in his arm and neck.
Surgery on the torn labrum in Howard's right shoulder is out of the question at this point, Howard said, because the recovery time would be six months. He's hoping that rehab, treatment and rest will help him get through the season.
The shoulder injury occurred Jan. 4 in a game against the Los Angeles Clippers. He played in the next game but then missed three games after the tear was diagnosed. He then reaggravated the shoulder in a game against Memphis last week.
"It's real sore," Howard told reporters after Wednesday night's game. "Everything on (the right side of my body) is hurting pretty bad right now."
The Lakers play Minnesota on Friday night and it's uncertain whether Howard will be available.
"I'm going to try as much as I can, but I don't want to cause more damage to my shoulder," Howard said.
