Frustrated Dwight Howard Invites Heckler to 'Come Out Here' onto Court

The Houston Rockets were once a basketball team.

They had great players—really talented guys who thumped on the NBA's hard-bitten Western Conference to the tune of 56 regular-season wins in 2014-15. They figured out how to use Josh Smith for good. One of them contended for MVP. I promise this happened.

Where that team is now, however, no one knows. After rolling past the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, the Rockets have come entirely unglued against a banged-up, Austin Rivers-led Los Angeles Clippers team. James Harden and company dropped their third game of the conference semifinals Sunday night, losing 128-95 to the Clippers and likely closing the book on their season.

Dogging the Rockets is about as easy as it will ever get, and Dwight Howard isn't having any of it.

Prior to being ejected in the fourth quarter, a frustrated Howard responded to a heckler in the stands. The fan—a Los Angeles Lakers supporter, according to BlackSportsOnline.com's Robert Littal—told Howard to buck up.

"Dwight…don't cry, man. Don't cry," the fan said.

Howard then invited the man onto the court. 

"Come out here," Howard said. "Come out here."

Later, Howard would throw a ball at an official and receive his second technical, leading to an ejection.

And there it is: the anatomy of a meltdown.

Dan is on Twitter. Don't fight, Dwight.