Rockets center Clint Capela ready to keep pace with Charlotte Hornets' Dwight Howard

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Having had perhaps the best game of his career in a matchup with the star center of his draft class, Rockets center Clint Capela will move to the star center on his team after he was drafted.

Capela had a career high 20 rebounds along with 16 points and four blocked shots against Joel Embiid and the 76ers on Wednesday. He will go from that performance to a meeting Friday with Dwight Howard and the Hornets, offering Capela how far he has come as he starts his fourth season.

“Every single game against Dwight is special for me,” Capela said. “It reminds me of my first days in Houston when I was looking up to him, looking at him as the superstar. I also watched him growing up. It always means a lot to me to play against him.”

Howard averaged 22 points and 19 rebounds against Capela and the Rockets last season, making 18 of 21 shots in a pair of Hawks wins.

Capela, however, played well against Howard, averaging 16 points and 9.5 rebounds, with 22 points in the second meeting.

Houston Rockets' Clint Capela (15) dunks the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez) Houston Rockets' Clint Capela (15) dunks the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez) Photo: Michael Perez/Associated Press Photo: Michael Perez/Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Rockets center Clint Capela ready to keep pace with Charlotte Hornets' Dwight Howard 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

If Nene is out as expected, Capela could play roughly 30 minutes, as he did against the 76ers when he was able to run the floor and wear down Sixers star Joel Embiid.

“Twenty rebounds, we’ll frame the box score,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He can do that every night. We’re trying to push him. Clint was good, real good.

“I thought (Embiid) got tired. We told (Capela) we need to run him every time. The only weapon we have is to run him, lean on him, make him work. I thought Tarik Black came in and put his body on him. It’s like a boxing match. Your legs get tired.”

The Rockets would likely have a similar strategy against Howard who is much better prepared to keep pace with Capela. Capela, however, was not at all surprised by his success against Embiid.

“I told you it was to prove to everybody and myself I can do it,” Capela said. “I’m a guy that watches a lot of video. I watch a lot of Embiid. I watch a lot of bigs. I want to be an expert on that. These kind of opportunities to show I can play with those guys is good.”