ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic center Dwight Howard is officially listed as out with a herniated disc in his lower back for Orlando’s game in Cleveland today.
Howard sat out the Magic’s 109-81 loss to Atlanta Friday, the fifth game he’s missed in Orlando’s last seven outings. The team was off Saturday. He is not travelling with the team.
The Magic are 1-4 without him.
Howard was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles after Howard flew there for a second opinion for what was called back spasms last month.
There is no timetable for his return, and will be based on how he responds to treatment.

Bryant likely to sit out against Dallas
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Kobe Bryant probably will miss his fifth consecutive game when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Lakers coach Mike Brown says the NBA scoring leader is likely to take another game off to rest his bruised left shin.
The Lakers are 3-1 without Bryant, beating the Denver Nuggets 103-97 on Friday night.
Bryant is walking comfortably on his leg without protection, but hasn’t tried running or jumping with the injury yet. The Lakers have six games left before the postseason after clinching a playoff berth Friday.

Celtics’ Allen
out for weekend
NEWARK, N.J. — Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen is going to continue to sit out because of soreness and swelling in his right ankle.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Saturday after Allen missed Boston’s game with New Jersey that the veteran would also miss Sunday’s game at Charlotte. His status for Tuesday’s game at New York is “50-50.”
Allen tried to do some things on Saturday but stopped because of the swelling, Rivers said.
The ankle has bothered Allen for weeks. He recently played in five straight games after being sidelined for six with the sore ankle, However, the soreness returned.
Rivers does not believe the injury is serious. He said that Allen probably would play if this was the playoffs.