Rockets coach McHale on Howard: 'I don't anticipate him being here for a while'

Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard was expected to meet with doctors Friday to have his right knee checked out, but the team is already preparing to be without the eight-time All-Star for an extended period. 

A report Thursday from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports said Howard, who's suffering from fluid buildup in his knee, could be out past the team's upcoming two-game road trip, and Rockets coach Kevin McHale confirmed as much Friday. 

"They said he had some swelling on his knee and he was going to check with more people today," McHale said, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. "We'll probably get a better update after all the doctors get together in a day or two. But he's not doing anything at all for a few days.

"I don’t anticipate him being here for a while. How long, I don't know."

Howard has been playing through right knee pain for much of the season after straining it in November, an injury that cost him 11 games. Friday's contest will mark the third straight he has missed and 15th on the season. 

McHale said Joey Dorsey, who has had a limited bench role, will start in place of Howard. 

The only good news for the Rockets, who have gone 10-4 without Howard this season, is that their frontcourt received a boost with the return of Terrence Jones on Wednesday. 

Jones' hot start was cut short after four games due to nerve inflammation in his leg that forced him to miss nearly three months. McHale said he intends to give Jones and third-year forward Donatas Motiejunas plenty of run together. 

Houston visits the Boston Celtics on Friday before wrapping up its mini road trip Saturday against the Detroit Pistons.