HOUSTON — Over the course of an 82-game regular season, some matchups have more significance to NBA players than others.
For Houston’s Amen Thompson and Detroit’s Ausar Thompson, Monday’s game at Toyota Center between the Rockets and Pistons was clearly one of those. It was the first time the highly touted rookies — each drafted in the top five of the 2023 first round — played against one another at a professional level.
The teams leaned into the theme, as well. Many fans received a special “Twins Night” bobblehead of both players. The same dual bobblehead will be given to fans in Detroit on Jan. 12, which is when the Rockets will pay the Pistons a return visit.
The Thompson twins were initially scheduled to face one another in the NBA’s 2023 summer league, but Amen’s ankle sprain prevented the head-to-head matchup at that time. Thus, Monday’s regular-season game on New Year’s Day was their first meeting.
Here’s our look at Monday’s Thompson-related activities, including statistics, interviews, observations, and reaction from both twins. Houston’s Thompson played a supporting role in his team’s blowout victory and recorded career-high totals in multiple categories.