Scoot Henderson sinks four three-pointers

Henderson’s first playoff appearance had some good moments but ended on a sour note. Through the first three games, he averaged 23.3 points and 4.0 triples, which had many people thinking he was finally showing some of the potential that made him the No. 3 pick in 2023. However, he was held scoreless in Game 4, and while he was able to get some points on the board in this one, he was benched for the end of the game and limited to 17 minutes. Henderson is still only 22 years old and has plenty of time to figure things out, but he’s going to have to make a major leap heading into next season to convince the Blazers he’s still an important part of their future.

After totaling 23 points in the first three games of this series, Grant had his most productive outing in Game 4. Shooting 50 percent from the field, the veteran forward recorded a complete stat line in 33 minutes. With Scoot Henderson (two assists and one steal) missing all seven of his shot attempts, Grant’s playing time jumped considerably, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Trail Blazers from being outscored 73-35 in the second half. Game 5 is on Tuesday, with the Trail Blazers one loss away from elimination.

Henderson found his rhythm with a 15-point second half in Sunday’s Game 1 loss to the Spurs and it carried over to Game 2 as he posted 31 points in the win. The 22-year-old guard’s three-point shooting was a major factor in this one as he was 5-of-9 from behind the arc. The series shifts to Portland for Game 3 on Friday.

After a quiet, three-point first half, Henderson found his rhythm in his playoff debut and scored 15 points after halftime to finish as Portland’s second-leading scorer on the evening. Henderson shot efficiently in his 27 minutes both inside and outside the arc, and was one of the Blazers’ more reliable starters overall. The former third-overall pick has logged some impressive scoring performances recently in his return from injury. He’ll have a chance to build off some Game 1 momentum and carry it over on Tuesday when the Blazers and Spurs take the floor again.

Grant will miss a sixth straight game as he continues to recover from a strained calf. Scoot Henderson has moved into the starting lineup, which has raised his ceiling in active fantasy leagues.

Henderson has scored in double figures in five straight and nine of his last ten appearances. However, he has shot just 40.6 percent from the field during this stretch. That, especially the three-point shooting, is an area where Henderson will need to make strides ahead of the 2026-27 season. And with Damian Lillard (Achilles) re-entering the fray, getting the opportunities needed to affect fantasy basketball will become more challenging for Henderson.

The Trail Blazers still have not revealed a return timeline for Grant, but he will miss a second consecutive game on Tuesday. Scoot Henderson moved into the starting lineup for Sunday’s win over the Wizards and played well, finishing with 21 points and seven assists. Fantasy managers and the Trail Blazers will hope for similar output on Tuesday.

Henderson moved into the starting lineup Sunday with Jerami Grant (calf) out and was excellent. The 22-year-old point guard produced big numbers in just 25 minutes. It was a nice game, but his fantasy ceiling is still fairly low depending on Grant’s health.

The Trail Blazers won’t have Jerami Grant (calf) for Sunday’s game, which opens a spot in the starting lineup. Henderson will fill the void, which raises his fantasy ceiling. Avdija may lose out on a few playmaking opportunities, but not to the point where it would negatively affect his fantasy value.

While Krejčí remaining out with a left calf contusion does not affect fantasy basketball, Grant’s calf strain does. His absence opens up a spot in the starting lineup, with Sidy Cissoko and Kris Murray being potential replacements. Also, no Grant means that the Trail Blazers will need more consistent production from Scoot Henderson off the bench.