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Dwight Howard says he didn't mean to elbow Cody Zeller in face

Sure. We believe you.

Dwight Howard says he really didn't mean to elbow Hornets center Cody Zeller in the head late in Friday night's game in Charlotte.

Officials felt otherwise, slapping the Hawks center with a flagrant foul 2 that resulted in his ejection. The Hornets, buoyed by the foul with 5:37 remaining in the game, immediately went on a 9-0 run to overcome a 3-point Hawks lead. Charlotte won, 100-96.

If you missed the play, officials certainly didn't.

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"It wasn't like I tried to hit him in the face," Howard told reporters after the game, via ESPN.