Capela to start for Rockets in opener as Howard serves suspension

The Houston Rockets are starting the season shorthanded, as center Dwight Howard serves a one-game suspension carried over from last year's playoffs, when he racked up four flagrant fouls.

With Howard's primary backup, Donatas Motiejunas, still recovering from back surgery, 22-year-old Clint Capela will get the start in the middle for the Rockets' season opener against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.

Capela, the Rockets' 25th overall pick in the 2014 draft, played the majority of last season in the D-League, averaging 16 points, 9.7 rebounds, and three blocks with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

He was called up late in the season and made a strong impression with his explosiveness and his motor - particularly in the playoffs, where he posted a PER of 21.8 and per-36-minute averages of 16.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks.

"You have to remember, Clint has played a handful of NBA games," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said, according to ESPN's Calvin Watkins. "He had some playoff games but he's got a long way to go. So Clint is not a finished product. He's just a kid, pump the breaks on that. Let Clint develop and get better."