WASHINGTON -- Dwight Howard sat out the Washington Wizards' season opener Thursday night with what the team said is a sore buttocks.
Washington's new starting center missed all of training camp and the entire exhibition schedule. He did not participate in any practices at all until Monday.
Coach Scott Brooks said before the Wizards hosted the Miami Heat that Ian Mahinmi would replace Howard in the lineup for Game 1.
"He's getting close," Brooks said about Howard, who did not miss a single game because of injury last season with the Charlotte Hornets.