Amen Thompson Scores Career-High 33 Points, Feels Like Kobe After Dramatic Game-Winner Against Celtics

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Amen Thompson expressed his excitement after leading the Houston Rockets to a narrow 114-112 victory over the Boston Celtics in an NBA game on Monday. Thompson's decisive jumper with just 1.3 seconds remaining secured the win, marking a career-high performance with 33 points for the 21-year-old player. "That was my first game-winner," Thompson stated post-game. "I feel like Kobe!"

Before his game-winning shot, Thompson had given the Rockets a lead of 112-110 with a straightforward dunk. However, Jayson Tatum managed to level the score again with only 5.3 seconds left on the clock. In a thrilling finish, Thompson received an in-bounds pass near the three-point line and maneuvered past Jaylen Brown to clinch victory.

Dillon Brooks also played a crucial role in Houston's triumph, achieving a season-high of 36 points by successfully converting 10 out of his 15 three-point attempts. On the Celtics' side, Jaylen Brown contributed 28 points while Jayson Tatum added another 19.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla admitted responsibility for Houston's late-game success. "Those last two plays were on me," Mazzulla acknowledged. "Those were my fault. I didn't put us in the best matchups. I saw the play that they were trying to run, and I tried to change the matchups and put our guys in a tough spot."

The Celtics are looking forward to recovering from this defeat as they prepare to face the Chicago Bulls next. Meanwhile, the Rockets will aim to continue their winning momentum against the Atlanta Hawks in their upcoming match.