Ausar Thompson didn’t put together a perfect opening night, but he did leave Detroit with a shot that matters.
The Pistons forward finished with 11 points in the season opener and delivered the kind of late jumper that can stick with a young player. With the game winding down, Thompson rose over Neemias Queta for a contested midrange basket that pushed Detroit ahead by six with 41 seconds left and helped lock up the win. For a player trying to turn preseason aggression into real-season production, that moment felt bigger than the box score.
Thompson’s offensive line showed a little of everything. He shot 4-of-8 from the field and made all three of his free throws, and he looked more willing to attack when the Celtics gave him space.
There were a few drives to the rim, plus an attempted corner three that didn’t fall. Even though the shot missed, the willingness to take it still counted for something at this stage.
He also found ways to help without scoring. Thompson finished with five assists and used handoff actions well when defenders backed off him.
That gave him room to screen for shooters and help create open looks for teammates. Detroit’s wings got useful production from deep in the rotation, and Thompson’s screening played a part in that.
Still, the passivity showed up too often. There were possessions where he let the play come to him instead of forcing the issue against a defender who was already hanging back.
In a game like this, with the shooters working, that approach was enough. But when the stakes get higher, the Pistons need Thompson to be more than a connector.
They need him to hunt his own offense, too.
The closing sequence gave a glimpse of that version of him. Cade Cunningham got him the ball with less than five seconds on the shot clock, and Thompson had to fire over Queta’s reach.
He didn’t hesitate. The result was a buzzer-beating midrange jumper that felt like the cleanest expression of his offensive upside all night.
That wasn’t the only flash. Thompson also showed off on a 360 layup after an offensive rebound by Daniss Jenkins, and he finished with 11 rebounds overall, including three on the offensive glass.
The athletic tools are obvious. The challenge now is turning those bursts into something steady.
For Detroit, the opener offered enough to feel encouraged. For Thompson, the hope is that the late dagger is more than a single highlight - that it becomes the beginning of a more aggressive offensive stretch.
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