Orlando Magic‘ center Dwight Howard has been suspended for Game 6 after throwing an elbow at the head of Samuel Dalembert in the early minutes of their Game 5 win over the Sixers on Tuesday.

The incident occured soon after tipoff, as Howard and Dalmbert were tangled underneath the net, both pursuing the same rebound. Howard threw the elbow as the two were separating. He only received a technical foul at the time, something that did not sit well with Sixers’ coach Tony DiLeo.

“He lives in the three-second lane on offense and defense. It’s tough to defend him or get to the hole when he’s just standing in the three-second lane all the time,” DiLeo said. “He’s a great player. He doesn’t need any advantages.”

That comment ignited a response from Magic’ coach Stan Van Gundy.

“Should I talk about the game, or am I supposed to get up here and lobby for the calls I want next game? Is that what it’s about?” Van Gundy said. “I guess that’s the only reason Dwight is having success in this series. I guess it’s not because he’s good. He’s always moving, not standing still.”

Even though Van Gundy may have thought the move was fair and that Howard receives no special star treatment, which is notorious in NBA basketball, the league’s front office apparently saw it differently.

The Magic will try to put the Sixers away without their best player, and the NBA Defensive Play of the Year, Thursday night at the Wachovia Center.

The Magic will also be without guard Courtney Lee, who suffered a fractured sinus in the first quarter Tuesday. Lee was also the recipient of a Dwight Howard elbow, but we assume this one was unintentional.

Despite playing the Magic close through the first four games, including trading wins back and forth, the Sixers were never able to get it giong Tuesday, ultimately losing by 13 points, 91-78.

Howard scored 24 points and grabbed 24 rebounds, including the one that cost him a one-game suspension. When Howard was asked about the complaints lodged by DiLeo and the Sixers, he dismissed it out of hand.

“I don’t think they should complain,” Howard said. “It’s basketball, it’s a tough series.”

Well that’s certainly easy for him to say, since he and his team are getting the calls. If it was Dalembert camping out in the lane, unimpeded, his comments may be a little different.

That being said, the Magic were the superior team on Tuesday. The Magic out-rebounded the Sixers 45-33, and made their bench irrelevant. Of the Sixers 78 points, 72 were scored by the starting five.

The Sixers will look to rebound Thursday night at 7:30.