Hawks' Dwight Howard: Closes out preseason with double-double

Howard registered 16 points (5-11 FG, 6-9 FT), 15 rebounds, three assists and a block over 29 minutes in Thursday's 97-81 preseason victory over the Bulls.

Analysis:

Howard heads into the regular season on the strength of back-to-back double-doubles after also having accomplished the feat against the Pelicans on Tuesday. The veteran big man also turned in a 26-point effort earlier in preseason, so he looks prepared to build on what was the second-lowest scoring average (13.7) of his career last season.