Howard: Feels like I'm being targeted with techs

Dwight Howard thinks referees are giving him an unfair shake.

The Philadelphia 76ers center is sitting on 15 technical fouls this season, leaving him just one short of an automatic one-game suspension. However, Howard believes he's been unfairly singled out on some of those calls.

"I do feel like I've been targeted, but I am just going to continue to play as hard as I can," he said after Monday's win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Marc Narducci of The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I want the Philly fans to know that I am out there giving 130% every night.

"The calls might not go my way, I might seem a little frustrated, but I am out there to help this team win a championship."

Howard picked up his most recent technical foul Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks after clapping sarcastically at a foul call. His head coach Doc Rivers, who was hit with a tech of his own for complaining about Howard's, defended the center postgame, telling reporters the call was "pure reputation."

The 76ers center says the onus is still on him to avoid those situations.

"I have to make sure that I hold myself accountable and do the right things and I hate it, I've got this many techs," Howard said. "It doesn't show my character, who I am as a person, a player, so I've got to do a better job of that, but a lot of my techs have been just really quick and when I'm on the court, I'm passionate, I want to win."

Howard's 15 techs currently lead the league this season. Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook are tied for second with 14 apiece, courtesy of SNY.