Los Angeles  - The Orlando Magic's hopes of closing out the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Six on Thursday, and moving into the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, took a giant hit on Wednesday.

The NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson said that Magic All-Star centre Dwight Howard was handed a one-game league suspension for elbowing Sixers big man Samuel Dalembert in the head.

The costly incident occurred with 9:15 remaining in the first quarter of Orlando's 91-78 home-court victory on Tuesday night.

Los Angeles - Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is the NBA's new secretary of defense in a landslide decision.

Howard was named the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, after becoming the fifth player in league history to finish tops in rebounds and blocked shots.

"To be the defensive player of the year at 23 is remarkable," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "To be a great defensive player usually comes later in a career. And he still has so much room for improvement."

Los Angeles  - On a special night immortalizing Alonzo Mourning, the Miami Heat was victimized by Dwight Howard.

Howard scored 22 points and grabbed 18 rebounds - to pass legendary Wilt Chamberlain as the youngest (23 years, 112 days) to pull down 5,000 boards - and the Orlando Magic beat the Heat 101-95 on Monday night.

Howard and the Magic spoiled an emotionally touching and tearful celebration for Mourning, who became the first Heat player to have his number retired.

Los Angeles  - Dwight Howard put on a red Superman cape last year and soared to a resounding victory in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. This year, the Orlando Magic centre didn't need any superpowers to become the first player in NBA All-Star Game balloting history to top 3 million votes.