LAS VEGAS — The Portland Trail Blazers announced Saturday night that rookie Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick, will not play in Sunday's highly anticipated NBA Summer-League game against the San Antonio Spurs and No.1 pick Victor Wembanyama due to a right shoulder injury Henderson suffered Friday against the Houston Rockets.
The Blazers said Henderson will be listed as day-to-day going forward. During a media interview Saturday afternoon, Henderson said "my shoulder's getting better," and that he and the team were still awaiting MRI results.
Before the injury on Friday, Henderson dazzled the crowd with a dominant first quarter against the Rockets, in which he totaled 13 points, three assists and three rebounds. He left the game with 4:51 left in the third quarter, finishing the game with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds in 21 minutes.
Blazers assistant coach Jonah Herscu, who is coaching Portland's summer league team, told media Friday after the game that he didn't know the severity of Henderson's injury. "Just being cautious," he told The Athletic. It was difficult to determine watching the game when or how Henderson injured his shoulder.
VIDEO: Scoot Henderson highlights
Henderson was not made available to the media Friday but didn't appear concerned after the game. He didn't have his shoulder in a brace or a sling when he left the Blazers locker room and later the arena.
"Henderson came back into the arena an hour after his game to wave and shake hands with family and friends in the stands," Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported Friday. "He raised his right arm several times and lunged over the railing with his right arm for contact. He did not look like he was carrying a bum shoulder."
Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and Turner Sports reported Friday that Henderson would "undergo an MRI on his right shoulder. ... There's optimism it's not a dislocation."
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Henderson wasn't the only Blazers player injured in Friday's game, a 100-99 loss against the Houston Rockets. Portland guard Keon Johnson dislocated his right index finger, Jason Quick of The Athletic reported. He told Quick "his finger bent all the way back toward him [and he] knew right away he was done." He said he's done for the rest of summer league.
Blazers second-year guard Shaedon Sharpe led the Blazers with 21 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Jabari Walker, a second-year forward for Portland, had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and rookie Kris Murray, the 23rd pick in the draft, hit two 3-pointers and finished with 10 points. The Blazers' other rookie, 43rd overall pick Rayan Rupert, struggled in his first NBA action, missing both his shots in 14 scoreless minutes.
The Rockets beat the Blazers on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Jabari Smith Jr., who scored a game-high 33 points.
Amen Thompson, the No. 4 pick, had 16 points, five assists and four rebounds in 28 minutes for the Houston Rockets. He exited the game with an injured left ankle. After the game, he said he twisted his ankle and didn't know his status for the rest of summer league.
The Blazers, without Henderson, will face the San Antonio Spurs and No. 1 selection Victor Wembanyama on Sunday in Las Vegas. Wembanyama struggled Friday in his summer league debut against the Charlotte Hornets, at least on offense. He missed 11 of his 13 shots and finished with nine points. But he also grabbed eight rebounds and blocked five shots.
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