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Official explains questionable Pistons’ Ausar Thompson ejection vs. Mavericks

Originally posted on NBA on ClutchPoints | Last updated Dec 19, 2025 3:22 AM ET

Emotions ran high for the Detroit Pistons against the Dallas Mavericks after Ausar Thompson’s ejection in the second quarter. The sudden decision stunned the Pistons and reshaped their night. Confusion spread along the sideline, while the arena reacted in real time. The explanation came after the moment settled. Referee John Goble told The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson that Thompson was ejected “for aggressively approaching and making contact with an official.” The words were firm and the reaction was anything but.

The sequence unfolded quickly as a whistle led Ausar Thompson to step forward, make minimal contact, and receive an immediate ejection. Thompson, one of Detroit’s most active defenders, walked off before halftime. His energy had been obvious early. Without him, his absence felt even louder. From there, the Pistons struggled to steady themselves as Dallas pushed the pace. By the third quarter, the Mavericks had built a lead as large as 18. Inside the arena, cheers were everywhere. At that point, the game looked close to slipping away.

AUSAR THOMPSON HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM THE DETROIT PISTONS FOR MAKING CONTACT WITH THE OFFICIAL pic.twitter.com/bVHGkjjkmB

— Dallas Nation (@TheDallasNation) December 19, 2025

Meanwhile, John Goble also addressed the technical foul assessed to Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff at halftime. In the same report, Goble said the tech was for “continuous complaining.” No qualifiers. No added detail. From the officials’ perspective, lines were crossed. From Detroit’s side, emotions had boiled over.

A Pistons rally that nearly rewrote the night

The Pistons refused to fold. They defended with urgency. They ran in transition. Shots started to fall. Stops piled up. The deficit shrank possession by possession. By the middle of the fourth quarter, Detroit had erased the entire gap. Tie game. Momentum flipped. Belief surged back into the building.

Overtime arrived tight and tense. Every possession carried weight. Then came the final blow for the Pistons. Anthony Davis rose in the lane and detonated a dunk that sealed the game for Dallas.

Detroit left short-handed but encouraged. The fight was real and their response mattered. Growth often shows itself after chaos. The Pistons felt it here. The next question is simple. When the next moment tests them, will the lesson stick?

This article first appeared on NBA on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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