Another game, another night without Dwight Howard for the Lakers.

Howard has missed the last two games with his shoulder injury, and has received platelet rich plasma treatment on it in an attempt to subside the pain and accelerate the rehabilitation process. With the Lakers facing a critical stretch of road games (four left on this trip) missing Dwight Howard isn't ideal, though Los Angeles has won both games in which Pau Gasol has started at center (albeit they weren't pretty).

However, despite the PRP procedure and time away, Dwight Howard will not play tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, citing that his shoulder has improved slightly, but he doesn't want to injure it any further, per Mike Trudell.

Dwight Howard said he is not playing tonight at Brooklyn. He’s feeling a bit better, but still has pain & doesn’t want to re-injure himself.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 5, 2013

D'Antoni said Dwight told him shoulder hurts as much as Sunday, which the coach takes to mean Dwight won't play vs. Nets tonight.

— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) February 5, 2013

Dwight said his shoulder is improved but he's not playing tonight: "This is my career."

— KEVIN DING (@KevinDing) February 5, 2013

No Dwight tonight. The Lakers next game is Thursday at Boston in the first half of a back-to-back that ends in Charlotte.

- Drew

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