{"id":109155,"date":"2024-11-26T08:36:45","date_gmt":"2024-11-26T13:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=109155"},"modified":"2024-11-26T08:36:45","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T13:36:45","slug":"how-pistons-ausar-thompson-season-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/26\/how-pistons-ausar-thompson-season-debut\/","title":{"rendered":"How Did Pistons\u2019 Ausar Thompson Perform In Season Debut?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Detroit Pistons second-year wing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/thompau01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ausar Thompson<\/a> had been cleared prior to Monday night\u2019s matchup against the Toronto Raptors. With Thompson having been out for several months <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/11\/pistons-crucial-ausar-thompson-clearance-update-game-changer\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">while awaiting medical clearance<\/a> from the NBA, the team was being cautious and understandably so. Despite his chiseled 6-foot-7 frame, his fitness level was in question. Blood clotting concerns aside, the long layoff between games meant that he wasn\u2019t going to be in peak physical condition.<\/p>\n<h2>How Did Pistons\u2019 Ausar Thompson Perform In Season Debut?<\/h2>\n<p>When the 21-year-old took the court in Little Caesars Arena, all of the noise melted away.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Welcome back Ausar Thompson. <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Pistons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Pistons<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eZncBMjMyK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/eZncBMjMyK<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GwvWbvFXup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/GwvWbvFXup<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CotyDavis_24\/status\/1861206207895044285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>His first taste of the 2024-25 season coming with 4:57 left in the first quarter, Thompson got acclimated quite quickly. Operating as a secondary playmaker in the second unit, he hit draft classmate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sassema01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Marcus Sasser<\/a> above the break for his first assist of the season.<\/p>\n<p>He missed his first attempt, a reverse layup, after creating for himself off the dribble. Though it was an errant attempt, he looking confident and comfortable getting to the rim. The same held true for Thompson\u2019s second field goal attempt, an 11-foot fadeaway.<\/p>\n<p>Then, six minutes and 47 seconds into the second half, Thompson nailed his first field goal of 2024-25. Interestingly enough, it was a corner three, a shot that defenses conceded throughout his rookie season as they dared him to make them pay. It was his second three-point attempt of the night, the other coming from the corner as well.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Ausar Thompson&#8217;s back, tell a friend<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DetroitBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#DetroitBasketball<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pPQv2oHmyP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/pPQv2oHmyP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FanDuelSN_DET\/status\/1861224557031690512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Less than half a minute later, Thompson found 2022 No. 13 pick <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/durenja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jalen Duren<\/a>\u00a0on a long-distance lob. It was his fourth assist of the night. By the end of the game, Thompson went 2-8 from the field and 1-3 from three, which includes an end-of-quarter 39-foot three-point heave. Nonetheless, while he missed some shots, his season debut was promising.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">There were obviously some misses but I really liked how comfortable and free Ausar Thompson looked out there tonight <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IP1HlpQSCG\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/IP1HlpQSCG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 \u211a (@qshironalberti3) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/qshironalberti3\/status\/1861250585179181211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The entire time, Thompson was providing suffocating defense. While Raptors forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/barnesc01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Scottie Barnes<\/a> was able to go off for 31 points, he appeared to have the most trouble when Thompson was his primary defender.<\/p>\n<h3>Postgame Reactions<\/h3>\n<p>After the game, which the Pistons won <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/tor-vs-det-0022400278\/box-score\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">102-100<\/a>, Thompson opened up about his return. As is his custom, he was candid, admitting to feeling \u201cweird\u201d due to how long it had been since he had played (h\/t The Detroit News reporter Coty M. Davis). He\u2019s also playing for a different coach than he was just a few months ago with the Pistons firing Monty Williams and replacing him with J.B. Bickerstaff.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Pistons?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#Pistons<\/a> Ausar Thompson on his return:<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It definitely felt weird. It&#8217;s been so long. I didn&#8217;t know what to expect when I got on the court&#8230;First time playing with the new coach. My guys had my back. They kind of showed me what to do out there; just play basketball.&#8221; <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/On8WY1DfeH\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/On8WY1DfeH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CotyDavis_24\/status\/1861252545403887937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Still, the hoops junkie says he felt \u201cnatural\u201d and had \u201ca lot of fun\u201d (h\/t Woodward Sports Network).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Ausar Thompson hoops \ud83e\udd79<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/DetroitBasketball?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#DetroitBasketball<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/UneUmr20M5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/UneUmr20M5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/woodwardsports\/status\/1861252832923451447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>As expected, Bickerstaff discussed Thompson\u2019s appearance as well, coming away impressed by his pace and playmaking.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">JB Bickerstaff on Ausar Thompson:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought he was really good at pushing the ball. He made some great plays to his teammates\u2026He was really good overall. The more comfortable he gets, the better he&#8217;s going to be.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CotyDavis_24\/status\/1861244097459069157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">November 26, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Pistons will certainly want to see more out of him as time goes on. Given his drive to be great, there\u2019s no doubt that Thompson has high expectations for himself. Nonetheless, for someone who hadn\u2019t played competitively since March 9, he looked as good as people could have hoped.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Detroit Pistons second-year wing Ausar Thompson had been cleared prior to Monday night\u2019s matchup against the Toronto Raptors. With Thompson having been out for several months while awaiting medical clearance from the NBA, the team was being cautious and understandably so. Despite his chiseled 6-foot-7 frame, his fitness level was in question. Blood clotting concerns [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5008,"featured_media":109161,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,1608,62,3],"tags":[4704,4745],"class_list":["post-109155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pistons","category-basketball","category-nba","category-news","tag-ausar-thompson","tag-nba-injuries"],"modified_by":"Quenton S Albertie","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5008"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109155"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109155\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109161"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}