Dwight Howard suspended 1 game after earning 16th technical foul

Charlotte Hornets center Dwight Howard has earned an automatic one-game suspension as a result of receiving his 16th technical foul of the season, the NBA announced Thursday.

Howard was hit with the latest tech in the second half of Wednesday's game against the Brooklyn Nets, which represented a smudge on an otherwise stellar night. The eight-time All-Star recorded the first 30-30 game in eight years, finishing with 32 points and 30 rebounds in the come-from-behind 111-105 victory.

He will serve the ban Thursday against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Henceforth, per NBA rules, Howard will be automatically suspended without pay for one game for every two additional times he's T'd up.

Howard, whose career-high in technical fouls is 18 from 2010-11, is the first player this season to hit 16. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green is one shy of the mark.