Scoot Henderson’s 31 Points Lift Trail Blazers Over Spurs to Even Series
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SAN ANTONIO — Scoot Henderson delivered a season-high 31 points Tuesday night, guiding the No. 7 seed Portland Trail Blazers to a 106-103 victory over the San Antonio Spurs and knotting their Western Conference first-round series at one game apiece.
The third-year guard shot 11-for-17 from the field in Game 2 at Frost Bank Center, marking his first 30-point effort of the season. Game 3 is set for Friday in Portland.
“I’m so blessed to even play in a situation like this,” Henderson said after the win. “Playoffs, third year, younger team, with great vets. The picture couldn’t have painted itself better.”
Henderson, selected No. 3 overall in the 2023 draft, missed 52 regular-season games with a torn hamstring and did not return until early February. He started only 10 of the 30 contests he appeared in, making Tuesday’s performance his most significant since entering the league.
“That was the best game of the season for him, maybe his career,” Trail Blazers head coach Tiago Splitter said. “To have a game like that in the playoffs against a great team like the Spurs, it’s something else.”
Henderson and Spurs star Victor Wembanyama first drew national attention during a pair of Las Vegas exhibitions in 2022, when Henderson played for NBA Ignite and Wembanyama represented France’s Metropolitans 92. While Wembanyama has since become the NBA’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year and an MVP finalist, Henderson has battled injuries and inconsistency.
The hamstring tear, which Henderson described as “a Grade 3-4ish,” sidelined him for more than half the season. “It wasn’t easy to get over that hump,” he said. “But I remain faithful. I prayed every day.”
Confident in his health, Henderson approached Game 2 determined to attack the rim on each touch. “They can’t mess with you,” he told himself the night before the game.
His aggression paid off as Portland overcame Wembanyama’s presence and several late Spurs rallies to secure the win and steal home-court advantage heading to Moda Center.
Source: ESPN.com
