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Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (12) reacts after he was fouled by Chicago Bulls' Kyle Korver during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Orlando, Fla., Friday, March 4, 2011. Chicago won 89-81. John Raoux, Associated Press
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Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard (12) has words with official John Goble after he was call for a foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Orlando, Fla., Friday, March 4, 2011. Chicago won 89-81. John Raoux, Associated Press

By Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy says he thinks Dwight Howard has shown restraint on the court this season despite picking up the league's first suspension for excessive technical fouls.

Van Gundy quoted an Elias Sports Bureau statistic Monday that notes Howard has been fouled 593 times this season without any of those calls being labeled flagrant.

Howard is serving a one-game suspension Monday night against the Trailblazers after picking up his 16th technical of the season against Chicago on Friday.

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Van Gundy says he thinks Howard "has settled down" and that he feels like NBA Commissioner David Stern doesn't "really tolerate other people's opinion or free speech or anything" when it comes to how he views how Howard's been treated this season.

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