+26 and a Nightmare for Stars: Amen Thompson’s Defense Is Becoming the NBA’s Best-Kept Secret

It’s no longer just potential — Amen Thompson is the real deal, and the rest of the league better start paying attention.

On a night when the Houston Rockets walked into Chase Center and handed the Golden State Warriors a gut-punch 106-96 loss, it wasn’t just about the Rockets locking down the West’s No. 2 seed. It wasn’t just about Golden State tumbling into a chaotic Western playoff pileup.

It was about Amen, a second-year guard with freakish athleticism and defensive instincts that seem almost psychic, completely shutting down one of the greatest offensive weapons the NBA has ever seen.

Stephen Curry, who had been averaging 41.7 points over his last three games, was held to:

• 3 points

• 1-of-10 shooting

• 1-of-8 from three

• 4 turnovers

• Season-worst impact

And the man who erased him? Amen Thompson, a 21-year-old defensive menace who spent 29 minutes making life hell for Golden State’s engine.

Full-Court Pressure, Smart Traps, Relentless Energy

Let’s be clear — this wasn’t just a bad shooting night for Curry. This was a coaching masterclass by Ime Udoka, executed to perfection by Amen.

From the opening tip, Amen was hounding Curry full-court. The Rockets threw aggressive traps and doubled Curry before he could even reach the timeline. Every off-ball screen, every dribble handoff, every misdirection — Amen was already there. It was like he had Curry’s playbook before the game even started.

The strategy was simple: make someone else beat us. Take the ball out of Curry’s hands. Deny his rhythm. Never give him space.

And it worked — to historic proportions.

Offense, Too? Amen’s Game is Two-Way Trouble

Amen wasn’t just a defensive bulldog. He also made things happen on the other end:

• 14 points

• 6 rebounds

• 6 assists

• 3 steals

• 2 blocks

• 7-of-14 shooting

He slashed to the rim with authority, finishing through contact and flashing an improved euro-step that brought to mind a young Jimmy Butler. On one possession, he beat his man baseline and elevated for a tomahawk jam, drawing gasps from even the home crowd.

But the highlight wasn’t the dunks. It was the moment late in the fourth, with two minutes left, Curry tried to split the defense on a dribble. Amen didn’t just poke the ball loose — he swiped it off Curry’s leg and out of bounds.

Ball. Game. Done.

A few seconds later, the Warriors benched their starters.

Supporting Cast Shines — But Amen’s Impact Stands Tall

Let’s give credit where it’s due. This was a full-team effort from Houston.

• Jalen Green had 21 points, including two dagger threes in crunch time.

• Alperen Sengun delivered a rock-solid 19-point, 14-rebound performance despite Draymond Green’s physical defense.

• Dillon Brooks was electric: 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting and 3-of-4 from deep. His offensive efficiency finally caught up to his defensive intensity.

• Jabari Smith Jr. came off the bench with 16 points and 9 boards, hitting big shots to keep Houston ahead in the second quarter.

But no one came close to Amen’s +26 plus/minus.

To put that in perspective, the second-best Rocket was Sengun at +11 — less than half. That kind of statistical gap, in a game this tight and strategic, screams impact beyond the box score.

A Season of Shutdowns: The Amen Thompson Resume

This wasn’t a one-off. It was the latest chapter in a growing portfolio of elite defensive performances from Amen Thompson.

He’s not just holding his own. He’s destroying All-Star guards night in and night out.

Let’s run it down:

• Anthony Edwards: 18-of-60 across four games (30%), just 17 points per game.

• De’Aaron Fox: 8-of-24 in three games (33%), just 6 total points in one of them.

• Ja Morant: 6-of-18 in three games, only 21 points combined.

• Donovan Mitchell: 2-of-11 in two games, 6 total points.

• Kyrie Irving: 1-of-4 in two games, 5 total points.

• Damian Lillard: 2-of-7 in two games, just 4 total points.

These are All-NBA guards — killers with the ball in their hands. And Amen is swallowing them whole.

This season, opponents shoot:

• 5.3% worse overall when guarded by Amen

• 4.5% worse from three

• 9.0% worse inside 10 feet

Those are elite, All-Defensive First Team numbers.

The Eye Test: Freak Athlete, Elite IQ

What makes Amen’s defense special isn’t just his numbers. It’s the way he does it.

His closeouts are explosive but controlled. His hips are fluid, allowing him to switch 1-through-4 without hesitation. His wingspan, combined with his timing, makes floaters, lobs, and cross-court passes look like contested jumpers.

And the kid has zero fear. You don’t put a second-year player on Steph Curry for 30 minutes unless that player is built different.

He is.

Shooting Still a Question — But Everything Else Is Real

Let’s not sugarcoat it — Amen Thompson still can’t shoot reliably.

His jump shot is a work in progress. Defenders sag off him. Late-game situations will test his confidence at the line. He knows it. The Rockets know it.

But when you’re this athletic, this aware, and this disruptive?

You earn minutes — big minutes — even with a shaky jumper.

And the Rockets are fine-tuning his offensive role. They’re using him more as a secondary playmaker, slashing cutter, and short-roll decision-maker. The results? Career-highs across the board:

• 14.0 points

• 8.2 rebounds

• 3.8 assists

• 1.4 steals

• 1.3 blocks

• 55.5% FG, 60.1% TS

Those are versatile, efficient, and winning numbers.

Playoff Implications: Houston Rising, Warriors Reeling

With this win, Houston has essentially locked up the 3-seed in the West — and they’re about to reshape the conference standings completely.

Their final three games? Against the Clippers, Lakers, and Nuggets.

Yes — three teams fighting for playoff positioning. Every game matters.

Meanwhile, Golden State is now in dangerous territory, tied in record with the Clippers, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies. Their next matchup against L.A. could be a do-or-die game for avoiding the Play-In.

For the Rockets, this season was supposed to be about growth and development. Now? It’s about expectations. They’re winning with defense, athleticism, and confidence beyond their years.

And Amen Thompson is the face of that shift.

Final Take:

Defense doesn’t sell jerseys. But when you hold Stephen Curry to three points, everyone notices.

Amen Thompson didn’t just lock up a game. He made a statement — to the league, to the fans, and to every guard thinking they’re getting buckets in Houston.

You don’t just face the Rockets anymore.
You face Amen.
And you better come prepared.