Amen Thompson scored 21 points Friday night as the Rockets routed the Jazz 140-106, giving Houston a comfortable win and another look at the 23-year-old’s expanding role. Thompson shot 7-for-11 from the field and 7-for-9 at the free throw line.
He also added four assists, two steals and four rebounds, a line that fit the broader run he has been on. Thompson has now posted at least three assists, four rebounds and 14 points in each of his last five games, while averaging 17.9 points, 5.3 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals this season. His 19.3% usage rate shows how often the Rockets are leaning on him as a versatile option for coach Ime Udoka, and his work on both ends has become a steady part of Houston’s recent stretch.
The size of the win mattered too. A 140-point night leaves little doubt about Houston’s control, but Thompson’s numbers are the part that travels forward. If he keeps producing across the box score, the Rockets will keep having a player who can affect the game without needing everything to run through him.
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Utah was the opponent on Friday, but Thompson has made the bigger point over the last five games: the production is no longer limited to one category. He is filling the box score while the Rockets keep winning.
