Amen Thompson capped off a hard-fought battle with the defending champions to give Houston their third straight win.
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Amen Says He '[Feels] Like Kobe' After Hitting Game-Winner Against Celtics
On Monday, the Rockets traveled to TD Garden to challenge the Boston Celtics in an epic back-and-forth between two of the NBA's top 5 squads. After trailing by as many as 12 early in the fourth quarter, Houston stormed back for a nail-biting, lead changing thriller.
With 0.7 seconds remaining in a bout with Boston, Amen Thompson grabbed the inbound, sliced up the middle of the floor and stepped-back over Jaylen Brown for a jumper.
Thompson, whose move into the starting lineup has helped fuel the Rockets' recent burst, finished with a career-high 33 points along with 10 rebounds and four assists.
"That was my first game-winner," said Thompson, who set a career high with his 33 points. "I feel like Kobe."
Brooks: "I knew that mf was going in."
Amen Thompson: "Oh that's my first game-winner. I feel like Kobe."
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/Y16sLlRX1S
— Overtime (@overtime) January 28, 2025
The shot was certainly Bryant-esque, and said plenty about Thompson's continued growth. Even more so, it says alot about Kobe Bryant's impact on today's game.
The NBA World Pays Tribute to Bryant on Anniversary of Death
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2020, at age 41, alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. The tragic death of the Los Angeles Lakers icon left an indelible mark on the NBA still felt five years later.
CNN premiered their three-part docuseries, "Kobe: The Making of a Legend," on Jan. 25, the day before the five year anniversary of his untimely demise. The series chronicles the life and legacy of Lakers icon from his childhood in Italy through his standout high school career in Philadelphia, culminating in his legendary 20-year run in LA.
Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, where Bryant spent his entire 20-year career, took to social media in tribute of the Hall-of-Famer.
Always in our hearts 💜 pic.twitter.com/gjkRboWvtH
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 26, 2025
Players across the league joined in the memorial, highlighting his presence as a driving force for the success they've enjoyed.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports that Bryant had challenged him to go for league MVP. The Greek forward later won the honor twice, back-to-back in 2019 and 2020, and credited the Mamba Mentality as an element in his success.
"It just made me believe a guy like him could believe I could compete for MVP," Antetokounmpo told Yahoo Sports. "I was amazed. I worked extremely hard, I always worked hard, but it was extra motivation. Because it was somebody I looked up to. I always played with a chip on my shoulder, like the world was against me."
