Howard says he will be more composed

LOS ANGELES – Dwight Howard wasn't happy with the NBA for fining him $35,000. He also was unhappy with himself.

"I've got to do a better job of keeping my composure, not getting frustrated, and also remember to play for my teammates at all times and stay on the right path," the Lakers center said Friday.

Howard was hit with the fine a day after smacking Denver's Kenneth Faried on a third-quarter drive in the Lakers' 126-114 loss Wednesday. Howard was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected.

"It was a lot for a foul," Howard said of the fine. "I'm happy I didn't get suspended. That's the biggest thing. Disappointed to be kicked out of the game. It's never happened since I've been in the NBA."

Howard now has three flagrant foul "points" under the NBA system that assigns one point for a flagrant foul and two points if the flagrant foul is especially severe. If a player reaches six flagrant foul points, he is suspended for a game.

"I really didn't know I had three. Oh, wow," Howard said. "I guess I've got to foul softer."

Cavaliers – Center Anderson Varejao will miss at least two more games with a bruised right knee.

Varejao has missed four games since hurting his knee Dec. 18 against Toronto. The Cavs had hoped extra rest would get the NBA's leading rebounder back on the floor, but he's not ready to play. Varejao sat out Friday's home game against Atlanta and will not travel with the team for today's game in Brooklyn so he can receive more treatment.

Heat – The team announced it did not agree with the one-game suspension given to Dwyane Wade for making contact with Charlotte's Ramon Sessions.

Wade was suspended for Friday night's game at Detroit for flailing his leg and making contact with Sessions' groin during the Heat's 105-92 victory over the Bobcats on Wednesday.

Wade tweeted Thursday that he's not a dirty player and was just reacting to contact with Sessions during the game.

• Forward Udonis Haslem is now Miami's career leader with 620 games played, breaking a tie with Wade because of the suspension.

Nets – Although the team severed ties with coach Avery Johnson on Thursday, owner Mikhail Prokhorov indicated he had his mind made up days ago.

"I made the final decision like last week," he said.

Asked why he waited to fire Johnson on Thursday, Prokhorov said: "I spoke with (general manager) Billy King. We had a discussion and then it was my decision."

Prokhorov would not give a timeline on when he wanted to hire a permanent replacement. The Russian billionaire said he would meet today with interim coach P.J. Carlesimo.

Magic – Forward Hedo Turkoglu, out since breaking his left hand in the season opener, made the trip to Washington and took part in the morning shootaround but did not suit up for Friday's game. The Magic hosts Toronto today.

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