SAN ANTONIO – Scoot Henderson delivered an impressive performance, scoring 31 points, as the Portland Trail Blazers capitalized on a concerning injury to San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama. The Blazers rallied in the final moments of the game to secure a 106-103 victory, leveling their Western Conference playoff series at one game apiece.
The night took a worrying turn when Wembanyama, the highly touted 7-foot-4 center, sustained a concussion after a hard fall in the second quarter. Following a foul by Jrue Holiday, Wembanyama tumbled face-first, leading to his jaw slamming into the court. He did not return to the game and entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, raising concerns about his availability for the upcoming games.
Despite Wembanyama’s absence, the second-seeded Spurs initially appeared poised to win, establishing a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter. However, their offense faltered, allowing Portland to capitalize on the situation.
The Blazers’ defense tightened, holding San Antonio without a field goal for the last 3:37 of the game. Portland closed out the contest with a powerful 11-2 run. Robert Williams III made a crucial alley-oop dunk with just 12 seconds left, giving the Blazers a 104-101 lead after Deni Avdija drove into the paint to deliver the assist.
“As a team, as a unit, I think that was our goal — to be aggressive,” Henderson reflected post-game. “Hit everybody that comes through the paint, box out and play fast. I think that was all of our success, and that kind of opened the floor for all of us.”
In addition to Henderson’s standout performance, Jrue Holiday contributed 16 points and nine assists, while Avdija and Williams chipped in with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
For the Spurs, Stephon Castle led the scoring with 18 points, followed by De’Aaron Fox with 17 points. Devin Vassell, who had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, missed a critical three-pointer with only two seconds on the clock, sealing the Spurs’ fate.
Game 3 of the series is set to take place on Friday in Portland, where the Blazers will look to build on their momentum.
Wembanyama’s injury was particularly concerning as he had scored 35 points in the Spurs’ Game 1 victory. In the limited time he played during Game 2, he managed only five points, four rebounds, one blocked shot, and one assist in 12 minutes before the injury occurred.
According to NBA guidelines, a player entering the concussion protocol must have at least 48 hours of inactivity and recovery, followed by a series of benchmarks and neurological tests without symptoms before being cleared to return to play. This process involves consultation with team doctors and the league’s concussion protocol director.
Historically, the Spurs have been dominant in playoff situations, having won 76 consecutive playoff games when leading by 14 points or more in the fourth quarter. The last time they lost a game under these circumstances was on May 19, 2003, against the Dallas Mavericks.
San Antonio had built its substantial lead with a powerful 13-0 run to start the fourth quarter, with backup center Luke Kornet making a significant impact after stepping in for Wembanyama, including a highlight-reel reverse slam for a three-point play. Kornet finished the game with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Henderson’s shooting was particularly impressive, as he connected on 11 of 17 shots from the field and nailed 5 of 9 from three-point range. Vassell acknowledged the challenge Henderson posed, stating, “(Henderson) has been shooting the ball really well. Got to be more physical with him. No catch-and-shoots, no easy off-the-dribble pullups. I think he made … I don’t know how many he made today. We’re going to make it a lot harder for him because he’s feeling way too comfortable.”
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