Dwight Howard Injury: Magic Will Have to Hit Panic Button If Howard Stays out

In every NBA team's season, there are very high high's and very low lows. The Magic are currently in the midst of one of their lowest, and if they have any hope of making this season last into May, they need Dwight Howard back as soon as possible.

Otherwise, it could mean a long slide down to the lower ranks of the Eastern Conference and no chance of making a run in this year's NBA playoffs.

The Magic currently sit in second place in the Southeast Division, seven games behind first-place Miami. They're in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, right behind the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics.

Only seven games separate third-place Indiana and ninth-place Milwaukee. The race is tight, and no one can afford to be losing ground this late in the game.

Particularly Orlando, which has dropped four in a row. The last thing it needs right now is to be without its best player for a long stretch, a player it kept amidst rampant trade rumors this year in the hopes of making a title run with him.

Howard has been out for the Magic's last two games with back spasms, and his absence—coupled with that of All-Star Jameer Nelson, who was out on Tuesday with calf soreness—has been devastating for a team that is fighting for positioning in the Eastern Conference.

And that's not even where the injuries end for Orlando. Power forward Ryan Anderson won't play on Thursday against New York due to a sprained ankle.

Together, Howard, Nelson and Anderson comprise Orlando's leading scorers. Nelson averages 11.3 points and 5.3 assists per game and Anderson averages 16.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

But it's Howard's absence that hits the hardest. He averages 20.9 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. Without his production—and without Nelson's and Anderson's as well—this team is in trouble heading down the final stretch of this season.

At this point, the most important thing is getting all of them healthy as soon as possible because every game and every win is crucial. If they miss too many games, they risk watching from the bench as the team continues to slide down the standings; if they come back too soon, they risk being unavailable for the postseason.

It's a delicate balancing act, but it's one the Magic must quickly learn to navigate. They either need to get healthy or they'll be going home early in  May—if they make it that far at all.