Dwight Howard out vs Wolves with shoulder injury

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard has been scratched for the game at Minnesota on Friday night with an injured right shoulder.

Howard has been bothered by an issue with the labrum in his shooting shoulder for several weeks. He aggravated the injury in a loss to Phoenix on Wednesday and was getting treatment on Friday morning before the shootaround, but it was announced that he would not play.

The injury means a return to the starting lineup for Pau Gasol, who hasn't hidden his disappointment with coach Mike D'Antoni's decision to bring him off the bench.