Howard suspended; Rondo can play

Orlando center Dwight Howard has been suspended for tonight’s Game 6 of the Magic’s playoff series against Philadelphia for his elbow on 76ers center Samuel Dalembert, the NBA said Wednesday.

The two got tangled up going for a rebound in the first quarter in Game 5 on Tuesday night in Orlando. Replays showed Howard threw an elbow that hit Dalembert above the shoulders. Howard drew a technical foul for the hit.

Stu Jackson, the NBA’s executive vice president of basketball operations, said Howard would have been ejected from the game if any of the referees saw him make contact.

Orlando will also be without starting guard Courtney Lee, who suffered a fractured sinus after taking an inadvertent elbow to the head from Howard later in the quarter.

Rondo is spared

The NBA said Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo won’t be penalized for his hard foul on Chicago’s Brad Miller in the closing seconds of Game 5. League spokesman Tim Frank said that the play “stands as called.”

That means no fine or suspension for Rondo or even flagrant foul points that could lead to a suspension if they accumulate.

Etc.

Michael Curry will return as coach of the Detroit Pistons, General Manager Joe Dumars said. . . . Lawrence Frank will return to coach the New Jersey Nets next season.