Dwight Howard Suspended For Game Six

The NBA has announced, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has been suspended for one game without pay for Tuesday’s first-quarter elbow to the head of Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert.

And that one game is a big one. Howard will be out for game six of the best-of seven series against the Sixers.

“The rule is obvious,” said Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski in an interview. “I contacted the league immediately after the play. To me there’s no difference than a punch. The rule states clearly if there’s an elbow thrown to the head and there’s contact, then the player should be ejected.”

Howard was not ejected. He did go on to finish the game with 24 points and a career playoff-high 24 rebounds, a dominating performance that powered the Magic to a 91-78 victory.

Well, Orlando will have to try and close out the series without Howard.