The NBA playoffs are scheduled to begin on April 28, but the Orlando Magic do not know if their superstar will play, or be able to play effectively, by then.

With Dwight Howard’s injury — a herniated disk in his lower back that has caused painful, persistent back spasms — there are no short-term guarantees.

“It’s a challenging issue while an athlete is trying to perform at a high level, and symptoms can change hourly,” said Ralph Reiff, an athletic trainer and the executive director of St. Vincent Sports Performance in Indianapolis.

Magic officials continue to say that no timetable has been set for Howard’s return. They say Howard’s return date will depend on how he responds to treatment.

via Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel