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Report: Howard likely needs glute surgery, could miss significant time

Will Newton / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Surgery appears to be on the table for Dwight Howard, who has missed a large chunk of the 2018-19 regular season

The Washington Wizards center likely needs to go under the knife to provide relief for a gluteal injury which has kept him on the sidelines for 12 games, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Howard reportedly met with a nerve specialist in Los Angeles on Thursday who recommended he undergo surgery. The 32-year-old may seek further consultation before coming to a final decision, though, as the procedure could force him to miss a significant amount of time.

He was absent for Washington's preseason training camp and the opening seven games of the season before making his debut on Nov. 2. Howard was active for nine outings through Nov. 18 before aggravating the injury, averaging career lows across the board with 12.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 0.4 assists, and 0.4 rejections in 25.6 minutes per game.

The three-time Defensive Player of the Year inked a two-year, $11-million contract with the organization over the summer which includes a player option in the second year.

Washington currently sits ninth in the Eastern Conference with an 8-13 record, while ranking second-last overall in defense, allowing 113 points per 100 possessions.

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