Watch: Dwight Howard caught using stickum

Rockets center Dwight Howard was caught using stickum during Saturday’s 109–97 loss to the Hawks.

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Rockets center Dwight Howard was caught using stickum during Saturday’s 109–97 loss to the Hawks.

Late in the first quarter, Atlanta forward Paul Millsap received the basketball from an official to shoot a free throw, but threw it back because it was covered in a strange substance. After examination, it was determined to be stickum, a substance banned by the NBA, and official Monty McCutchen issued a warning to both benches.

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According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Chris Vivlamore, the substance came from a taped spraycan, which Howard used on his hands at the scorer’s table shortly before.

After the game, Howard owned up to using stickum and said he does so “every game.”

Howard on his Stickum: "I don’t know why people are making a big deal out of it. I do it every game. It’s not a big deal. I ain’t tripping.”

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) March 20, 2016

The NBA is investigating the incident.

– Kenny Ducey