Oh, and in case you were wondering: Howard called himself a robot.

“[When] I’m out of rhythm, I play like a robot,’’ said Howard, who seemed to grow frustrated when he missed his first three shots, until he got his first basket to drop on a banked jump hook with 6:15 remaining in the first quarter. “It’s just me. I have to get [into] a rhythm, find ways to get the ball, and not get into a wrestling match with those guys.

“I think that’s playing to their advantage, trying to wrestle with them and fight for position. Then they can play better defense that way.’’