Washington Wizards F Josh Howard calls report about him missing game with a hangover a ‘lie’

Wizards F Howard calls hangover story a ‘lie’

WASHINGTON — Josh Howard called a report that he missed a game last month with the Dallas Mavericks because he had a hangover a “lie.”

After Howard scored 20 points to help his new team, the Washington Wizards, beat the Denver Nuggets 107-97 on Friday night, he was asked about the ESPN.com report, which cited unidentified sources.

Howard said, “I’m not responding to a lie.”

Howard was traded to Washington from Dallas last week. He missed the Mavericks’ Jan. 20 game against Washington with what was announced as a stomach illness. He did not start another game for the Mavericks after that.