Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson exited Thursday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs after appearing to hurt his right ankle, giving Detroit an immediate injury scare in the first quarter. The early update was that Thompson went to the locker room, and he was later listed as questionable to return with a right ankle sprain.
UPDATED, 9:28 p.m. ET: Thompson did not start the second half for the Pistons.
That mattered right away for Detroit because Thompson has become one of the Pistons’ most important two-way wings, and the timing was especially notable with the team in the middle of a March stretch that continues Saturday against the Brooklyn Nets and Sunday at Miami.
Key Points
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Ausar Thompson exited Pistons-Spurs after an apparent ankle injury in the first quarter.
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He was later listed as questionable to return with a right ankle sprain.
Ausar Thompson Injury
The first concern for Detroit was whether Thompson’s injury would force an early end to his night. Initial reports from the arena said Thompson was down with a lower-leg injury before getting up and walking to the locker room, with the ankle appearing to be the issue. A later update listed the Pistons forward as questionable to return because of a right ankle sprain.
That sequence is important because “questionable to return” usually leaves open the possibility of a comeback in-game, rather than an immediate ruling out.
Is Ausar Thompson Playing Tonight
Yes ,the latest update is that Thompson started the game against the Spurs, but exited early in the first quarter with an ankle injury. The Pistons got off to a slow start against San Antonio, too, so any additional missed court time for the Pistons could spell disaster.
That depth-chart angle matters beyond one game, too. The Pistons play Brooklyn next, followed by Miami on the second night of a back-to-back, so any lingering ankle issue would be worth monitoring on Detroit’s next injury report.
Amen and Ausar Thompson
Any update on Ausar tends to draw interest because of his connection to his twin brother, Amen Thompson of the Houston Rockets. The brothers were selected back-to-back in the 2023 NBA Draft, with Amen going No. 4 and Ausar No. 5, and both entered the league after starring with Overtime Elite.
Their NBA paths have stayed closely linked because both are jumbo guards-wings with elite athleticism and defensive upside. Even though they now play on different teams, their development is often discussed side by side, which is why searches for one brother frequently spike interest in the other.
Ausar Thompson Stats
Entering Thursday, Thompson was averaging 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals and .9 blocks per game, while shooting 52.2% from the field.
Those numbers only tell part of the story. Thompson’s value also shows up in matchup assignments, activity plays and transition pressure, which is why an ankle scare would have been significant for a Pistons team sitting at 45-15 and trying to keep momentum in the East.
Ausar Thompson Injury Update: Forward Exits Pistons-Spurs