AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Lakers center Dwight Howard is expected to play Sunday against Detroit after making a quick trip to Los Angeles for a minor shoulder procedure.

“He’s going to give it a go,” said a person familiar with the situation.


Howard missed the Lakers’ 111-100 victory Friday over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night so he could return home for a relatively non-invasive platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment in his right shoulder.

Howard aggravated a torn labrum in the shoulder Wednesday against Phoenix.


“I think he’s on a plane [to Detroit] in 10 minutes,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said after the Lakers finished practicing Saturday at about 3 p.m. Eastern time.

Howard has sat out four games and left two others because of his shoulder. He received a series of PRP injections that were meant to stimulate healing and growth in the shoulder area.


The Lakers (21-26) are 1-1 on their seven-game “Grammy trip.”

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