Scheduled
Washington Wizards at Indiana Pacers
2026-27 · Regular season
Ausar Thompson says his bigger Pistons role ‘feels natural’ and wants to ‘look for my own shot a little bit more,’ as J.B. Bickerstaff explains the actions behind it
Ausar Thompson said his expanded ball-handling role with the 7-3 Pistons feels natural and that he wants to be more aggressive looking for his own shot, J.B. Bickerstaff explained how Detroit uses him as a screener, and Jalen Duren worked with the strength coach before Thursday’s game at Washington.
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Ausar Thompson has had the ball in his hands more this season than at any point in his NBA career, and after practice on Wednesday he said the new role feels natural. “I feel like I’ve worked on it since I’ve gotten to the league, so obviously I’ve gotten better,” Thompson said. “It’s something I’ve done before I got to the league, so I’m just trying to get better every day.”
The Detroit Pistons are 7-3 and first in the Central Division heading into Thursday’s game at Washington, and a big part of their plan this season has been to take some of the creating load off Cade Cunningham. Thompson has been the player handed the most new responsibility. He is averaging a career-high 4.4 assists, along with 9.3 points and 8.4 rebounds, but also a career-high 2.6 turnovers, including five in Monday’s 122-111 win over the Wizards.
‘Be more aggressive, look for my own shot’
Asked where he is in that process, Thompson kept coming back to pace. “Taking things a day at a time and trying to get better every day, and being more aggressive,” he said. “Trying to get rebounds to push the pace, and when that happens, defense is collapsing. I can get assists. I might have it in the corner, I might have it in the lob.”
He said defenses have already started to adjust to him in the open floor. “Now they see you push it, so they try to spread out,” he said of transition. When he was asked what he wants to improve over the rest of the season, his answer was short: “Be more aggressive, you know, look for my own shot a little bit more.” Until then, his plan is simple: “Take the open shots, or if I’m not going to take the open shot, get to the next action.”
Thompson said he does not spend much time thinking about who is protecting the rim when he drives. “I really don’t think about rim defenders too much,” he said, even with Thursday’s opponent able to put both Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr near the basket.
Bickerstaff on the Thompson and Robinson actions
One way Detroit has made life easier for Thompson is by using him as a screener instead of only as a ball handler. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that comes from how opponents have chosen to guard him, with many teams putting their center on Thompson and leaving him room.
“It’s good just because of the matchups,” Bickerstaff said. “A lot of these teams you see are putting their centers on [Thompson]. So now he becomes the guy who’s involved in the action, setting screens, dribble handoff. But now he gets to roll and he’s already gotten an advantage.” He said shooters such as Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter “know how to play with [him]. They find him in the pocket, now he’s getting advantage to the rim.” When the help comes, Bickerstaff said, Thompson “makes the right pass, so he’s able to finish.”
Thompson said that partnership with Robinson goes back to the offseason. “I feel super comfortable,” he said. “Me and Duncan have worked together on those specific things in the summer. We talk about it, you know, so I’m definitely comfortable.”
Duren in the weight room, Cunningham’s threes
Jalen Duren, who has been out since straining his right hamstring at Miami on Oct. 23, spent most of the open part of Wednesday’s session working with the team’s strength coach, mostly in the weight room. The Pistons said on Sunday that he had been cleared to begin on-court basketball activity and that they would update his status again in two weeks.
Cunningham stayed after practice to get up extra three-pointers.
What’s next
The Pistons and Wizards meet for the second time in four days on Thursday, Nov. 12, in Washington. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. ET, which is 2 a.m. Friday in Cairo. Detroit won Monday’s meeting at Little Caesars Arena despite a season-high 44 points from Davis.
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