Dwight Howard hasn't missed one game since the Orlando Magic drafted him first overall in 2004, and his teammates hope that streak continues despite leaving his last game early because of knee pain.
Howard expects to be back in the starting lineup, and will try to snap out of an uncharacteristic slump on Saturday night when the Magic visit the Utah Jazz.Howard left Orlando's 113-112 loss to Phoenix on Friday because of a sore left knee. He made his first five shots and scored 12 points in the first quarter but then played only 10 more minutes before leaving for good with 8:36 left in the third quarter.
"I made a move on (Robin) Lopez and I guess I came down the wrong way or something," said Howard, who finished with 19 points. "I don't even remember what happened but I was trying to run back on defense and my knee started hurting. I'm not going to play with any pains like this."
Howard didn't think the injury wasn't serious. He's played in all 82 games in each of the previous four seasons for Orlando (17-6)
"It's none of my ligaments," he said. "Everything is fine. I'll be all right."
Howard came in averaging 21.2 points and 14.5 rebounds, but he's been held to a combined 36 points in his last two games, and has only seven rebounds in each contest. He's also been limited to one block the last two games after recording six in each of the previous three.
Orlando hopes Howard will bounce back as it tries to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since opening the season with defeats against Atlanta and Memphis. The Magic rallied from 10 down in the fourth quarter on Friday, but came up just short after former Orlando star Grant Hill scored on a reverse layup with 2.7 seconds remaining.
The game was the Magic's second consecutive one decided by one point as Orlando beat Portland 109-108 on Tuesday. In the first three victories of the winning streak, the Magic had held their opponents to an average of 88.7 points.
The Jazz, meanwhile, are coming off a 97-88 win over the Trail Blazers on Thursday - their third victory in four games. Mehmet Okur scored 21 of his 27 points in the first half, and pulled down 10 rebounds.
"I felt good, especially in the first half. I was able to mix up my game," Okur said. "In the second half I didn't want to shoot any tough shots over the hand or anything like that, so second half everybody got involved and it was a big game for us."
Okur is averaging 15.8 points this season and 20.3 in the last four games. He's recorded three consecutive double-doubles.
Utah hasn't won three straight since opening the season 5-0.
The Jazz have won their last two against the Magic after losing six of the previous seven. Utah is 11-5 at home against Orlando since 1991-92.
