The technical foul that Dwight Howard received in the Orlando Magic's postseason opener has been upheld by NBA disciplinary officials, a league spokesman told the Orlando Sentinel.
A player receives an automatic one-game suspension when he compiles seven technical fouls in one postseason.
Howard was whistled for a personal foul and a technical foul with 5:37 remaining in the third quarter of the Magic's 103-93 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
Atlanta's Zaza Pachulia collected an offensive rebound, and when Pachulia went up for a shot, Howard committed a personal foul.
Howard received the technical foul when he draped his right arm over Pachulia's right shoulder and pulled Pachulia to the ground.
Howard committed a total of 18 technical fouls during the regular season, resulting in a one-game suspension after his compiled his 16th tech and another one-game suspension after he compiled his 18th tech.
League officials review every technical foul.
Funny times
The news conference for Howard's third consecutive NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award featured some moments of hilarity.
"I want to thank my teammates for allowing their men to get to the basket again, forcing me to block shots and pick up fouls and sometime technical fouls," Howard quipped.
Then there was an exchange between Howard and Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith.
"I'm going to try to learn how to take charges," Howard joked.
Smith retorted that if Howard took a charge, it would be the first time Howard took a charge as a member of the Magic.
Smith teased that he'd buy Howard a Kia Sorrento if Howard ever took a charge.
Sore spot
Hawks forward Josh Smith revealed that he suffered a sprained left elbow during Game 1.
A bag filled with ice covered the joint before Atlanta practiced Monday at Amway Center.
Smith is left-handed.
"When my adrenaline gets to pumping, I tend not to feel injuries," Smith said. "I'm ready to play. I know everybody in this locker room is ready to play."
Still, Hawks coach Larry Drew said he was a bit worried about Smith.
"Yeah, I'm a little concerned," Drew said. "He mentioned that it was a little sore and it was bothering him a little bit. He's getting treated for it, so hopefully it gets better by gametime tomorrow."
Layups
• The Hawks praised Howard for his defensive skills. "He's a great defender," Joe Johnson said. "He's a great help defender. Anytime you get in that paint — and I'm talking about guards — anytime we get in that paint, we understand the fact that he's coming over trying to block the shot. So he definitely alters a lot of shots. He blocks a lot of shots."
• Kia, the presenting sponsor for the NBA's individual award, donated on Howard's behaf a Kia Sorrento CUV to the BETA Center, a local nonprofit that helps teen mothers.
• A Magic spokesman said that 250 tickets remained for Game 2 as of 4:30 Monday afternoon.
jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.
