Its been a roller-coaster season for the Orlando Magic and its taken another dreadful turn.
Magic team officials announced on Friday that Dwight Howard has a herniated disk in his lower back and there is no timetable set for his return. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Howard is unlikely to return for the regular season.
"His return will be determined in how he responds to treatment," team spokesman Joel Glass said.
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Howard's condition was diagnosed Friday by spine surgeon Robert Watkins after Howard and Magic physical therapist Ed Manalo went to Southern California for a second medical opinion.
Losers of seven out of their last nine, the Magic currently sit in the sixth-seed in the Eastern Conference and are only three games ahead of the seventh-seeded New York Knicks and eight-seed Philadelphia 76ers.
Howard is averaging 20.6 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks in 38.6 minutes per game for the Magic.