Ausar Thompson is a one percent of the one percent athlete, helping him be a menace on the defensive end. Down the stretch in Game 6, with the season on the line, Thompson was locking up and shutting down Jalen Brunson.
With a minute left in the game and the Pistons up by one point, Thompson did this:
But Brunson is a seven-year vet in the league and, with 7.5 seconds left, Brunson taught Thompson a lesson…
…Then showed why he was named the 2024-25 NBA Clutch Player of the Year, hitting the game-winner to send the Knicks to the next round:
Jalen Brunson ($8,600; 56 FPTS) finished with 40 points, four rebounds and seven assists in 42 minutes while shooting 15-of-33 from the field, 3-of-10 from downtown and 7-of-8 from the line.
OG Anunoby ($6,400; 40.75 FPTS) had 22 points, five rebounds, an assist, two blocks and three steals while Mikal Bridges ($5,900; 35 FPTS) contributed 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block.
Karl-Anthony Towns ($8,500; 35.75 FPTS) had a poor shooting night, going 4-of-10 from the field and finishing with only 10 points, but he pulled down 15 rebounds, dished out two assists and nabbed two steals.
For Detroit, Cade Cunningham ($9,700; 50.25 FPTS) had 23 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, a block and three steals.
Ausar Thompson ($4,300; 36 FPTS) only played 23 minutes but put up 17 points, six rebounds, an assist, two blocks and three steals. Malik Beasley ($4,100; 26.5 FPTS) shot 6-of-13 from downtown and finished with 20 points, two rebounds and two assists.
New York will now face Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Game 1 will be on Monday, May 5th. DK Sportsbook has Boston as heavy favorites to win the series at -800. New York is +550 to pull off the upset.
