Thompson Twins: Amen, Rockets defeat Ausar, Pistons in first matchup
Amen Thompson had a career night and emerged victorious in his first matchup against his twin brother, Ausar Thompson, to help the Houston Rockets defeat the Detroit Pistons.
Amen produced 12 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals in the 136-113 win on Monday. He went 5-of-6 from the field in 28 minutes off the bench in his 12th appearance of the season with the Rockets. On the other side, Ausar finished with five points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
The matchup was the first time the two brothers faced each other at any level of basketball. Their older brother, Troy Thompson, estimated that about 30 friends and family would be in attendance to watch the contest.
Amen called it a special night before the game.
“It is going to be a special moment for me, him, my family and my friends,” Amen told Vanessa Richardson of Space City Home Network. “I’ve got a lot of people coming. It is special.”
Twin jersey swap!
Amen and Ausar Thompson after their first NBA battle 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Lj3hfznylZ
— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2024
The first unofficial matchup between Amen and Ausar was scratched in July when the fourth pick suffered an ankle injury in the NBA Summer League that prevented him from playing in the contest.
To celebrate the first regular-season matchup, the Rockets hosted a “twin night” at Toyota Center, featuring giveaways of interlocking bobbleheads of the two players. The Pistons will do the same when the two teams meet for the second and final time of the season on Jan. 12.
They were matched up on each other periodically throughout the contest. However, neither player scored when guarded by the other, so the collective basketball community will have to wait to see if one brother can dunk on the other this season.
The evening certainly proved to be special for Amen and Ausar, who became the first siblings selected in the top 10 of the same NBA draft. They figure to see each other for years to come.
“It is crazy, but seeing him on the court warming up is weird; him being on a different team,” Ausar told Natalie Kerwin of Bally Sports Detroit before the game. “I haven’t seen him practice in so long. It is crazy we’re in this position. We’ve dreamed of this moment for so long.”
