Rockets' Howard leaves briefly with knee injury

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard briefly left with an apparent right knee injury against the Sacramento Kings before returning to his usual form.

Howard and Kings center DeMarcus Cousins banged knees with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter of Tuesday night's game. Howard grimaced and took a minute to gather himself after the collision before limping to the locker room.

Howard returned with 7:10 left in the second quarter wearing black leggings underneath his uniform.

The eight-time All-Star entered the game averaging 18.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.8 assists this season. He left the Los Angeles Lakers after one season to sign a four-year, $88 million contract with the Rockets in July.