WGL Sports Performer of the Day (2/2/17)
Atlanta Hawks Center Dwight Howard (24 points, 23 rebounds)
Dwight Howard made his return to Houston last night, his first trip back to H-Town since leaving the Rockets and signing with the Hawks for 3 years and $70.5 million last summer. The move so far seems to be benefitting both teams, as the Rockets are on the short list of contenders in the West, and Howard is providing his hometown Hawks with a solid 13.6 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. In the matchup against his former team, Howard had a double-double by halftime, and he finished with 24 points and 23 rebounds on the night. It was the 47th 20-20 game of his career, which is 31 more than any other player in the league since 2004-05. He was 11 for 13 from the field, scoring with his usual efficiency from in close to the basket. Howard was instrumental in a 113-108 come-from-behind win.
The Hawks trailed by as many as 20 points during this game, and they were still down by 13 as they entered the fourth quarter. Howard played a key role in the comeback, putting up 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks in the final period to help hand the Rockets just their sixth home loss of the season. Even at 31 years of age, the eight-time All-Star and three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year still has some good basketball left in him. And more importantly, after burning some bridges at previous stops in Orlando, Los Angeles, and Houston, Howard appears to be having some fun and enjoying basketball again while playing for Atlanta. The Hawks are currently 29-21 and are the #5 seed in the East, so even with the addition of Howard, they still need some more help if they want to ascend back to an elite level.
