OAKLAND, Calif. — Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard briefly left Tuesday’s opener of the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter with a slightly hyper-extended left knee.
The minor injury occurred when Rockets power forward Josh Smith crashed into Howard’s knee on a drive to the hoop in the seventh minute of the game.
Howard was removed from the contest during a timeout shortly thereafter, and spent much of the break exercising the injured leg.
He returned to the game later in the first period.