Dwight Howard will likely need a procedure to provide relief from a gluteal injury that has frequently sidelined him this season.

Howard received the recommendation from a nerve specialist in Los Angeles. If Howard undergoes the surgery, he could miss a significant portion of the season.

Howard aggravated a piriformis muscle injury in a Nov. 18 game against Portland, and has missed 12 of the Wizards' 21 games this season.

Howard signed a two-year, $11 million free-agent deal with the Wizards during the offseason.