Throughout his series against the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons star Ausar Thompson showed fans that he is one of the best young defenders in the league.

But one minor misstep on Thursday cost him and his team dearly.

Following a lapse in Thompson’s defensive prowess, Jalen Brunson capitalized and scored a game-winning three-pointer, ending the opening round series and sending the Pistons home for the summer.

After the game, Thompson got honest with ESPN about rewatching the final play.

“Nah, probably not going to watch it for a little bit,” Thompson said, adding that he’s “gotta hit the weight room” to do a better job of absorbing Brunson’s contact on such a sequence.

Thompson has been a dog on Brunson and others during this series, consistently staying on top of them and not giving any room to breathe.

But with this play, Brunson got the best of him and was able to create enough space to put up his shot.

That was all he needed, and the shot went in, putting an end to a great year for the Pistons.

Even with this loss, the Pistons have a lot to be very happy about, especially with Thompson.

He averaged 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 53.5 percent from the field in 2024-25 and seems like a lock for several future All-Defensive teams.

He brings the exact sort of energy that the Pistons want and need moving forward, and he’s a key reason why they are one of the most exciting teams in the Eastern Conference.

Fans are disappointed by how the season ended, but they will move beyond it, especially because they know Thompson will keep delivering in the seasons ahead.

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