HOUSTON — "That was my first game-winner! I feel like Kobe," said 21-year-old Amen Thompson in a quote circulating among Houston sports fans. During Monday night's game against the Celtics, Thompson scored a career-high 33 points on 13-of-19 shooting. The game itself had a playoff atmosphere for several reasons.

The Houston Rockets stunned the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on Monday night, courtesy of a last-second go-ahead bucket from Amen Thompson. Thompson used a nasty move to shed the pressure of his defender Jaylen Brown before sinking a fading jump shot from inside the key to give Houston a 114–112 lead with less than one second left.

Amen Thompson's athleticism and play in his second year has been key for Rockets who have ascended to being one of NBA's top four teams.

Amen Thompson made a game-winning floater with 1.3 seconds remaining to polish off a career night, lifting the visiting Houston Rockets to a 114-112 victory over the short-handed Boston Celtics on Monday night.

There's a legitimate argument for Thompson to remain as the starter when Smith returns. The Rockets have found the same success with Thompson in the starting lineup, and he's been producing at a higher level. Based on his seamless fit in the first five, head coach Ime Udoka will have a tough decision to make soon.