Dwight Howard is having a spectacular season for the Lakers. He's an integral part of a championship contender. He's headed back to the dunk contest. The Lakers have picked up his $2.56 million non-guaranteed contract for the rest of the season. And now Howard is hitting 3-pointers for good measure. 

First off, did you realize that Howard has made eight 3-pointers in his career? I did not expect that when I went to his basketball-reference page. I was thinking maybe this was the first three of his career, to be honest. Maybe the second. But he has actually hit a 3-pointer in six different seasons. 

The latest came Tuesday night. The Lakers were blowing out the Knicks late in the fourth quarter when Howard, who has now hit two 3-pointers this season, stepped into a catch-and-shoot triple at the top of the key. When it went in, LeBron James and the Lakers bench predictably went wild. 

This was a bit of a tension reliever for the Lakers and the home crowd, who had watched Anthony Davis leave the game after a scary fall on his back. Thankfully, X-rays came back negative according to the team, and it was officially diagnosed as a sacral contusion. Who knows how long Davis will be out. Initial reports are that he'll miss the Lakers' upcoming road trip at least. But it could've been a lot worse. 

In the meantime, maybe Howard will just keep hitting threes to make up for A.D.'s absence.