Dwight Howard looks like he's already comfortable in Houston.

The new Rockets star tied a career-high with 26 rebounds in his team's season-opening 96-83 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.

"I really was trying to get 30," he said. "I said coming in tonight that I wanted to get 30 rebounds. I was upset that I didn't do it, but I'll try the next game."

Howard, who signed a whopping $88 million contract with Houston after he ditched the Los Angeles Lakers, also scored 17 points to go along with his two dozen rebounds.

"He was amazing," Howard's new teammate, James Harden, said. "Running the floor, rebounding the basketball ... and finishing the basketball. You know, doing what he does. He's a game changer."

Howard downplayed the importance of the opening day game and acted as if it was just one of many games he will play in with the Rockets this season.

"I didn't want to put any pressure on myself," he said. "I just wanted to go out there and play and have fun and get back to being who I am as a player. I think when you focus too much on that and what everybody else is saying that's when you don't play like you want to play.

The addition of Howard has changed things dramatically for the Rockets. Although the squad made the playoffs last year, it was the first time since 2009 that the team made it to the postseason. They are looking to go even further this year, and the combination of Howard and former Knicks star Jeremy Lin, who is in his second year with Houston, the team could do some damage down the stretch.

It will be especially interesting to see how Lin bounces back from losing his starting role this season after he was benched in favor of Patrick Beverley. In a reserve role, Lin still managed to score 16 points in the opener.