Detroit, Ausar Thompson gave the Pistons a brief scare yesterday when he rolled his ankle in Game 5 at Little Caesars Arena, then came back to help Detroit extend its season. The rookie wing finished with 6 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists as the Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 102-90, staving off elimination and guaranteeing at least one more game in the series. Trainers and fans kept a close eye on him after the tweak, but he ended up logging the minutes Detroit needed late.
In-game exit and quick return
Thompson was seen getting treatment on the sideline after the third-quarter play and briefly went back to the locker room, according to ClickOnDetroit. Rotowire's in-game update on CBS Sports noted that he had landed awkwardly on the play while contesting a shot. Local reporters pointed out that he had four points before the injury, then checked back in late in the quarter and immediately strung together several defensive stops.
Stat line and defensive impact
By the end of the night, Thompson's official box-score line read 6 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists, and his impact showed up most clearly on the defensive end. ESPN's play-by-play logs him on the floor in the closing stretch, where he came up with blocks and defensive contests that helped Detroit close out the fourth quarter and secure the win.
Ankle history and what it means
Thompson has dealt with right-ankle soreness at various points this season and missed time in March after a sprain, an issue documented in Rotowire reports published on CBS Sports. That history made Wednesday's ankle scare especially tense for Detroit, which entered Game 5 facing elimination.
What’s next
The series now shifts back to Orlando for Game 6 on Friday, May 1, with a Game 7 set for next Sunday, May 3 if necessary, according to the NBA's postseason schedule on NBA.com. The Pistons are expected to update Thompson's status before the team heads to Orlando, where they will try to stretch this run at least one more game.
