It hasn’t been an easy season for Scoot Henderson. In fact, it’s been an up-and-down first three years in the league for the guard selected third overall by the Trail Blazers in the 2023 draft.
On Tuesday, his journey reached a major milestone, as he had 31 points in a three-point victory that tied the series with the Spurs at one game apiece. His head coach, Tiago Splitter, felt the emotions of the performance, Ramona Shelburne writes for ESPN.
“I don’t know if I have words for it,” Splitter said. “That was the best game of the season for him, maybe his career. To have a game like that in playoffs against a great team like the Spurs, it’s something else. Not just offensively, but defensively. He carried us, scored when we needed, got stops and really won a game for us.”
Henderson, at one point, was considered the 1b draft prospect to Victor Wembanyama‘s 1a, which led to the two players facing off in an exhibition game when the point guard was with the G League Ignite and Wembanyama was in France, a game in which both players showed the best of what they could do.
Since then, Henderson has dealt with injuries and has struggled to find his rhythm, including this season when a torn hamstring in the preseason cost him a majority of the year.
“I’m so blessed to even play in a situation like this,” Henderson said. “Playoffs, third year, younger team, with great vets. The picture couldn’t have painted itself better.”
We have more from around the Northwest Division:
- Peyton Watson is still working his way back from a hamstring strain as he seeks to get back on the court for the Nuggets. He is expected to miss Game 3 of the series against the Wolves, but was able to get some work in on the side of Denver’s practice today, Anthony Slater writes for ESPN. Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Gazette adds (via Twitter) that he was mostly working out with and against the coaching staff.
- The Timberwolves believe that Rudy Gobert‘s performance against Nikola Jokic through two games is emblematic of why voters made a grave mistake this season, Tyler King writes for The Denver Gazette. “It’s a joke that he wasn’t a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year,” head coach Chris Finch said after the Wolves won Game 2. King notes that Jokic went 1-for-8 in Game 2 when guarded by Gobert, and seven of those shots came in the fourth quarter. “I know who I am,” Gobert said. “It’s not the first time I get disrespected, probably not the last. If they want to disrespect greatness, take it for granted or whatever, sooner or later, they’ll realize the impact.”
- Anthony Edwards‘ stats for the Wolves in Game 2 were impressive, but it was his superstar energy as he fought through pain in his knee that really led the way for the team, writes AP’s Dave Campbell. “It definitely uplifts me,” Julius Randle said. “I feel like I can’t let him down. If he’s out there battling, then there’s no excuse why I can’t give my best and make the extra effort plays and just go out there and compete at the highest level.” Edwards finished the game with 30 points and 10 rebounds while clearly being bothered by the knee ailment that kept him out for 11 of the team’s last 13 regular-season games.