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Detroit Pistons get big boost from Ausar Thompson’s little additions
HOUSTON — Ausar Thompson had Monday’s date marked on his calendar for months.
It was the Detroit Pistons’ annual trip to Houston to face the Rockets — and Thompson’s third time facing his twin brother, Amen, since they were drafted fifth and fourth overall, respectively, in 2023.
Ausar’s journey to the game, though, was definitely different, compared to last season’s meetings. A blood clot diagnosis in March delayed his 2024-25 season debut by a month, costing him the Pistons’ first game against the Rockets, on Nov. 10 at Little Caesars Arena. The NBA cleared him to return a day later, on Nov. 11, and his season debut came two weeks after that, on Nov. 25.
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Since his return, Thompson has been a big part of the Pistons’ success. And he helped them snap a two-game losing streak and move back above .500 Monday with a win over the Rockets — another signature win for a team that has won 11 of 15 games since Dec. 21.
Monday marked Thompson’s seventh consecutive start for Detroit; he finished with 11 points and nine rebounds in Houston. (His brother, meanwhile, tallied 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.) Two months after his debut, Thompson has essentially picked up where he left off as a rookie and proven himself as an indispensable contributor on offense and defense.
And he was able to accomplish a personal milestone by beating his brother for the first time in the NBA.
“He’s not a guy who forces or presses the issue,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said Monday before the 107-96 win. “He’s one of those guys who just plays basketball and makes basketball plays. His ability defensively to get stops, block shots, rebound the basketball, as a coach you don’t draw that up, you don’t scheme that. He just does that naturally.
“Offensively, his ability to push the ball, play-make, pass, offensive rebound, attack the paint, you don’t have to draw those things up and scheme those things up. He’s been able to show his natural instincts and I think as time’s gone on, now the more complicated stuff is starting to come for him and that’s a good sign for him and a good sign for us.”
Thompson is averaging 7.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals in just under 19 minutes per game. He has been impactful while dealing with a minutes restriction — rarely topping 25 minutes in a game and yet to play more than 27. On Monday, he played 23, while his brother played 40.
Thompson’s game meshes with his role. He’s the Pistons’ top perimeter defender, one of their best playmakers in transition and a great rebounder for his size. The team is 9-2 in January despite losing Jaden Ivey on New Year’s Day, largely thanks to Thompson.
“(It’s) us just trying to monitor him and keep him as fresh as we best possibly can, and honestly on some days that’s different,” Bickerstaff said of the minute restriction. “Sometimes I can look at him and see, ok he’s doing good. Other times I may look at him and think he needs a break. Just depending on the pace of the game — how many breaks, how many stoppages, free throws — all of those things play a part in it. The timeout situation around it, obviously those things impact the length of his stretches. And it’s kinda a gut feel as you’re going into the game as well.”
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Thompson and his brother have a close — and competitive — relationship. The Rockets won 41 games last season, the Pistons just 14. Amen would remind Ausar that his team’s record was the Pistons’ record in reverse. A year later, the gap between the two teams has shrunk.
The Pistons are now 22-21 and finished Monday tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Rockets have been one of the top teams in the Western Conference but have just six more wins, at 28-15, even though the Pistons were 11-17 overall midway through December.
The rivalry between the brothers, by and large, only exists on the court. Thompson leaned on Amen while dealing with uncertainty at the beginning of the season, not knowing when his pending injury status would be resolved. He caught all of his games, and they often spoke directly afterward.
Was it tough for Thompson watching Amen play before he himself was cleared?
“No,” Thompson said quickly. “If anything, I had become his biggest fan. We talked a lot, watched a lot of film. That’s my guy for life, I can’t even explain.”
Despite the disparity in minutes Monday, the Pistons’ Thompson nearly tallied a double-double to help them dominate the glass.
He’ll have to wait until next season to play his brother again. In the meantime, he’ll continue working to make sure the gap between the Pistons and Rockets is eventually closed for good.
“With the minute restriction, it’s just going out there and trying to give it my all every time I’m in there,” he said. “Just trust in the process, know his plan for me and one day I’m going to get back to that. I’m going to do all the little things — I’m going to watch more film, make my minutes more, I don’t know, I’m just gonna say serious even though there’s a better word for it, and do what I do in those minutes I get.”
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.
The Detroit Pistons have been on a winning streak lately, and a big part of their success can be attributed to the little things that rookie guard Ausar Thompson has been adding to the team.
Thompson may not be putting up huge numbers on the stat sheet, but his energy, hustle, and attention to detail have made a big impact on the court. Whether it’s diving for loose balls, setting screens, or making the extra pass, Thompson is always willing to do the dirty work that often goes unnoticed.
His teammates and coaches have taken notice of his contributions, with head coach Dwane Casey praising Thompson’s dedication and work ethic. “He’s a true team player and is always willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win,” Casey said.
Thompson’s selfless attitude and willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team succeed have quickly endeared him to his teammates and fans alike. With his little additions making a big difference on the court, the Pistons are looking like a team to watch as they continue their winning ways.
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