Surgery will end Howard’s season–report

ORLANDO– Dwight Howard will undergo surgery for a bad back, ending his season with the Orlando Magic and likely eliminating him from playing for the USA at the London Olympics, ESPN reported Thursday.

Howard’s agent, Dan Fegan, told ESPN that the center will have surgery to fix a herniated disk on Friday in Los Angeles.

Howard has been struggling with back problem for the past month.

Howard received an epidural to lessen the pain in March. The National Basketball Association club said at the time he would miss about two weeks but then learned the injury was more serious than first thought.