Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson begins to return to form

Detroit — Like the 17,000 fans at Little Caesars Arena Monday night, Ausar Thompson wondered: “What if?”

At the end of the first quarter, Thompson almost had the dunk of the year. He took off outside the key on two feet and missed a two-handed dunk over the Miami Heat’s Dru Smith, who was booked for a blocking foul. After the game, Thompson said he had never been so sad after missing a dunk. Thompson was so in his feelings that he didn’t want to shoot the two free throws that resulted from Smith’s foul.

However, it didn’t take long for him to overcome his sadness. He was instrumental in the Detroit Pistons’ 125-124 overtime victory over the Heat. He set season records with 19 points, nine rebounds and four steals, but it was having 26 minutes and 55 seconds next to his name in the box that brought him the most joy.

“It was awesome,” Thompson said. “We’re going to try to do it again in the next game. Whatever the coach needs, whatever the team needs from me, I’ll be prepared. However many minutes they need, I’ll be ready to do it.”

Thompson exceeded the Pistons’ 20-minute restriction to monitor his return from a blood clot. Detroit’s strategic plan, which has been in place since he made his season debut on Nov. 15, also calls for the second-year forward to play in 2-3 minute intervals.

The Pistons needed Thompson in the absence of Tobias Harris. He started in place of the veteran striker, who was out with a right thumb injury. But to overcome his limits, Thompson had to question his conditioning and push his limits.

He played the fewest minutes among the five starters who took the floor against the Heat. Yet outside of a triple-double performance from Cade Cunningham, Thompson made the most significant impact in displaying his potential as a two-way prospect.

“I thought he was great,” Cunningham said. “He made so many plays; the scramble plays, he makes so many off-ball plays for us. Obviously he can guard. He’s got great hands. He had a bunch of deflections for us. Having that is huge for our defense – for the intensity that our team brings, I think he had a great game. He will continue to improve as he gets his feel back.

Thompson didn’t experience any setbacks, but there was a slight moment of concern early in the third quarter. He landed awkwardly on his left knee and immediately waved for a sub. He later revealed that his fear of injury was due to cramps.

The game marked the most minutes played by Thompson since the Pistons’ 118-112 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on March 7. He played 43 minutes in the victory and was poised to end one of the most impressive rookie seasons in the 2023 NBA Draft. Two days later, a blood clot abruptly ended his first year.

Illness forced Thompson to be out of action for 262 days. Although frustrated, he took advantage of this time to improve his physical condition and learn to take better care of his body. Thompson and his teammates are grateful for his return and impact over his first seven games. However, everyone in the Pistons locker room wished Thompson had converted his dunk attempt against Smith.

“I thought he was really good on both ends of the floor,” coach JB Bickerstaff said. “There’s more to come. You see everything he can do on the court, as a playmaker, as a rebounder, playing catches and attacking the paint – we know what he’s like capable defensively. I thought he was really good, and I think he’ll only get better.”

Bickerstaff: Reed renews his signing

Pistons re-signed Paul Reed before Monday night’s game against the Heat. The move came two days after the Pistons waived him for financial reasons. Waiving Reed on Saturday gave Detroit the opportunity to opt out of his original $7.7 million contract, which would have become a fully guaranteed deal in January.

“We love Paul,” Bickerstaff said. “Everything he’s done every day, he’s been here. His approach has been fabulous. He’s been a great teammate. He’s been eager to get into practice. So we were fortunate to be able to bring him back and keep him here with us.”

Reed’s re-signing proved to be an “important” move for the Pistons. The signing gave Detroit a contingency plan amid the loss of Isaiah Stewartwho left the game early in the second quarter due to a hyperextended left knee. Reed played 12 minutes after Stewart’s exit. He finished with six points and grabbed two rebounds.

Before re-signing Reed, the Pistons opted out of the Motor City Cruise deal. Javante McCoy. Motor City guard Cruise signed with the team Sunday night.

“There are business things that I don’t talk about that have happened in this league,” Bickerstaff said. “The relationships we have are important and important in helping us get through situations like this because we understand it’s not easy, but we hope we’ve done enough to make him feel comfortable. ‘comfortable with us. And obviously, Paul does.

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