The Orlando Magic plan to send video to the NBA’s league office of superstar center Dwight Howard allegedly getting “punched in the back’’ by Dallas Mavericks center Brendan Haywood late in Friday’s game at the Amway Center.  Read more after the jump.
Howard was unable to practice on Saturday and was scheduled to see a back specialist later in the day because of soreness and stiffness in his lower back. His availability for Sunday’s 6 p.m. game against the Denver Nuggets at the Amway Center is uncertain, but Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said: “It would have to be pretty bad to keep him out because the guy shows up every night. We’ll have to see tomorrow.’’
Van Gundy said video replays show Haywood hitting Howard in the lower back with his fist. Van Gundy said that Howard twice absorbed hard shots from Haywood and never was more than a simple foul called on the play. So Van Gundy is planning to send the video of the play to the league office hoping that Haywood will be punished for the play.
“It’s really ridiculous and I want to get it on film and send it in (to the league office). Haywood just punched him literally with a closed fist right in the back,’’ Van Gundy said. “So (Howard) got through the game because he was loose, but then it really tightened up. They are going to work on him and hopefully he’ll be OK. But (Howard) didn’t do anything (in practice on Saturday).’’
Haywood refused to comment on the incident on Saturday when asked by reporters in Dallas.
The Howard injury was especially infuriating to Van Gundy because it came on what he felt was a flagrant play. Van Gundy has been on somewhat of a mission to protect his six-time all-star center because of the hard fouls he takes in the low post from defenders determined not to give up dunks.
“It happened on that one possession twice and it’s a little frustrating. That (punch) one I’m going to send in (to the league office) because that one was out of hand,’’ Van Gundy said. “The guy’s punching a guy in the back, meanwhile at the other end … I’ll just leave it at that.’’
Howard, who had 19 points and 15 rebounds in 43 minutes on Friday, was unavailable for comment on Saturday about the alleged punch from Haywood.
