Blood clotting issues ended Ausar Thompson‘s rookie season and delayed his sophomore campaign. However, the second-year wing emerged as a starter this season and played an integral role in the Pistons‘ 106-103 Game 5 victory over the Knicks on Tuesday. Thompson supplied 22 points, including a key late bucket, along with seven rebounds and two blocks as the Pistons staved off elimination.
Thompson was also the primary defender on Jalen Brunson, who was limited to 4-for-16 shooting and seven assists, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press notes.
“We did a great job of getting to our spots and executing the stuff we knew we could get to that created an advantage for us,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “It all started with Ausar and his defense. He was phenomenal defensively tonight. Offensively obviously he came up with 22 points, but I think it started with his defense and a lot of credit should be given to him.”
We have more on the Pistons:
- Many people thought Detroit couldn’t recover from a controversial Game 4 loss in which the team blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead and was victimized by an official’s no-call in the closing seconds. The Pistons came to Madison Square Garden more determined than ever, Bickerstaff said. “I’m not surprised,” he said, per Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois. “This is what they’ve always shown to be and this is what we expected from them tonight.”
- Did Cade Cunningham offer a veiled guarantee of a Game 6 home victory on Thursday night? According to Jared Schwartz of the New York Post, Cunningham declared the series would return to New York for Game 7. “We’ll be back,” he said. Cunningham said the team thrives in hostile environments. Both of its wins in the series have come on the road. “It’s everything you dream of. Playing with a full arena, a bunch of people booing you, that’s everything you dream of,” he said.
- The Pistons have been able to keep the Knicks under control despite the absence of their interior defensive stopper. Isaiah Stewart missed his fourth consecutive game due to right knee inflammation, as Sankofa relays. The Pistons have used Paul Reed off the bench in his absence with Jalen Duren getting the bulk of the minutes when he’s been able to avoid foul trouble.
If not for incompetent refs
Detroits going home with chance to clinch
Cade agrees with you ….
The no-call on Hardaway Jr. is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. Next game, 3 absurd calls on DET that were even worse. Harris gets literally elbowed in the face and gets a foul called ON HIM. Brunson will have to keep being a master of flopping for NYK to win it.
Master of flopping whining crying
When things dont go his way he’ll punk out with a fake injury
Refs will make sure its ny boston 2nd rd
You can always tell when people have never played. Writers with their negative takes. Media looking for something or someone to blame. Trying to out sensationalize each other. And fans running with anything that will feed their take.
The truth is. The Knicks are favored for a reason. Yet are not playing up to that status. This series shouldn’t be this close. The Pistons have played well enough to be ahead. Without the refs help. There are three consistent things going on this series. Whenever Cade has wanted to get to rim or get a good shot off. He’s done it. He has no respect for Towns in the middle. He doesn’t do it to Mitch. Bridges still has not stepped up to lead this team. There has to be a game in this series. Where he should dominate. Knicks still waiting. The bench is still MIA. And it’s all starting to catch up with Thibs.
Knicks picking up Bridges and Towns. Gave fans hope. That this was a deep team. And that anyone on that starting 5 could have a big game. Or all five could spread the scoring and be successful. It has happened at times. But at this point they have become dependent on Brunson scoring. On Brunson managing the offense. Not much different than when Randle would get the ball……. Knicks are a better team than the Randle team now. Unfortunately they are still not good enough. Thats what Pistons have shown us.
Great analysis on Cade abusing KAT and driving when KAT is in the game. I still have Knicks in 6 but all the pressure is now on NYK with Brunson and Hart being hurt/dinged up. Thibs has no clue how to manage his timeouts. I don’t understand how you don’t possess a timeout with 5 secs left? It looked like he was lost in the final minutes of the game.
You can’t blame it on him. Guys were banged up. Knicks should not have let this come to last min. You are home. Close them out. They didn’t show up man. Thibs biggest mistake is the bench. They had all year for that. By the way I love Cade. Wish Bridges had his mental toughness.
There is a reason Pistons beat them 3 out of 4 during the season
Would be fun is Amen and Ausar finish 1 and 2 for DPOY in 2026.