'Thankful' Dwight Howard to return

— -- Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard said he will play Saturday against the Denver Nuggets after missing the last 11 games with right knee soreness.

"I'm just thankful to be back out there," Howard said. "Nobody wants to sit on the bench in a suit and watch his team play. You want to get out there in the action. But I'm happy to be back out there, thankful. I thank God for just allowing me to be able to play again. I'm just happy to play again. That's the big thing."

Howard initially began to experience soreness in his knee Nov. 17 against Memphis. He said he didn't believe the injury was all that serious at the time and fully intended to play in the Rockets' Nov. 19 game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

He ended up being a late scratch for the Rockets' loss to the Lakers. The following day he underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy to help restore the cartilage in his knee. Earlier this week, Rockets coach Kevin McHale said he didn't know whether Howard would return "anytime soon."

The Rockets have missed Howard's presence in the middle of their defense but managed to go 8-3 without him.

Howard, 29, is averaging 18.8 points,11.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game this season, his second with the Rockets.

ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne contributed to this report.