The Washington Wizards will be without center Dwight Howard Tuesday night when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers. In his place, the team will start second-year big man Thomas Bryant.

The Wizards confirmed that Dwight Howard would be sidelined against the Clippers due to an “aggravated gluteal soreness.” They immediately named Thomas Bryant as starter.

Howard's injury is the same issue he had that forced him to sit out the first few games of the season. The 32-year-old has had a solid start to the campaign since returning, averaging 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Bryant will be a starter for the first time in his career. He has only played in six matches for the Wizards this year, averaging 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in only 5.3 minutes of action.

Washington is currently 11th in the Eastern Conference with a disappointing 5-11 record. They are struggling and underperforming this year, leading to heated exchanges and plenty of discussions about possibly blowing up the team.

With that said, Howard's absence is a huge loss for the team. They need his production now more than ever, especially with their current issues.

One thing to keep an eye on for Tuesday night though is Bryant and how he will fare in his first game as a starter. If Howard has to miss more time and Bryant performs very well in his new role, Washington might need to consider a long-term lineup change.

The Wizards are playing the red-hot Clippers and it could be the perfect game for Bryant to show that he's ready for the challenge.