Rockets’ rookie Amen Thompson hits game winner against Celtics: “I feel like Kobe”

Rockets' rookie Amen Thompson made an impact on Saturday night, sinking a game-winning shot at the buzzer to seal a 107-106 victory over the Boston Celtics. Thompson delivered his first career game-winner earning praise. He also added his career-high score in the match. The rising star later shared that he felt the moment and compared himself to NBA legend Kobe Bryant which has quickly captured the attention of Rockets fans and the NBA.

Amen Thompson’s stunning shot before the buzzer secured the Rockets’ win over the Celtics

Amen Thompson delivered a career-defining performance in the Rockets' thrilling 114-112 win over the Boston Celtics.

Thompson was the talk of the town after his game-winning floater. It was also his first buzzer-beater put up with a fraction of a second left. That clutch shot against the defending champions was an indication of Thompson's rapid growth in his second season of play. His performance, alongside Dillon Brooks' contribution, propelled the Rockets to the latest road victory.

While his final shot made headlines getting wide attention, he also scored a career-high 33 points. Certainly, he was on fire with the support of his teammates. "Oh, that's my first game-winner,” Thompson said in a postgame interview. He further compared his final shot to late Kobe Bryant’s iconic shot of the same nature. “I feel like Kobe," Thompson added.

Thompson also recorded 10 rebounds in a career-high 42 minutes of play. He shot 13-of-19 (68.4%) from the field and 6-of-8 (75%) from the free-throw line. But the center of attention remained to be the game-winning drive with only 0.7 seconds on the clock.

The Rockets led 31-27 after the first quarter and increased their advantage in the second. Fred VanVleet's 3-pointer with 4:14 left stretched the lead to 50-39. However, the Celtics rallied with a 13-4 run to end the half, narrowing the gap to 54-52.

Fans reacted to Amen Thompson’s game-winner

Following the astonishing shot by Thompson, fans rushed to social media to respond to the 21-year-old guard’s achievement.

One fan hailed the young NBA star, “he’s elite probably the best rocket he does it all.”


Another commented on Thompson’s huge impact on the game.


One fan addressed the young athlete as “elite.”


Another called the win great.


Several fans also hailed the team’s gameplay.



Also Read: Anthony Davis powers Lakers to victory against Hornets with 42 points

The point/shooting guard joined the team in 2023 and is making a huge impact for the Rockets. Currently, he is averaging, 13.2 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 55.6 field goal percentage.