LAS VEGAS – Portland Trail Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson did not return after missing his NBA Summer League debut with an unexplained right shoulder injury in the third quarter against the Houston Rockets.
And he wasn’t the only high-profile rookie injured during the game.
Rockets rookie Amen Thompson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, left the same game late in the fourth quarter with an apparent left ankle injury. He was injured when Blazers center Ibou Bhaji got tangled under the basket and blocked a shot with about 50 seconds remaining.
Last month’s No. 3 pick in the draft, Henderson had 15 points, six assists and five rebounds in 21 minutes. It was not immediately clear how Henderson was injured, and Blazers summer coach Jonah Harrsk said he did not know when or how the injury occurred.
“We’re just being cautious,” Harrsk said.
The Blazers wanted Henderson to be taken to a facility where he could get a proper medical check-up, so he didn’t play. He came out of the locker room with headphones around his neck and stopped for a short chat with head coach Chauncey Billups. He then picked up the phone with his left hand and was escorted out of the arena by Blazers staff. Henderson returned to the arena an hour after the game to wave and shake hands with family and friends in the stands. He raised his right arm several times and jumped over the railing with his right arm to make contact. He didn’t look like he was carrying his butt.
Teammate Chris Murray said he didn’t think the injury was serious. “It’s not that bad. He’ll be fine,” Murray said. “It’s something you don’t want to push too much in the summer league.” Murray said he based his opinion on reading Henderson’s body language in the locker room. “I’m not a doctor, so I don’t know every inch of the human body. (But) I think he’s fine. That’s nothing to worry about.”
Thompson had 16 points and five assists in 28 minutes.
“I just blocked the shot and landed on his foot and twisted my ankle,” Thompson said after the game. “[Whether he plays this weekend or not]really depends on the staff. I know I’m going to get better, but it’s up to the staff if they keep me for the season.”
Henderson and Thomspong were the preliminaries for the debut of global sensation Victor Wenbanyama, the No. 1 overall pick. Wenbanyama’s debut against the San Antonio Spurs is scheduled for the same Thomas and Mack Center Court in Las Vegas right after the Blazers-Rockets game. game.
The Rockets won 100-99 on a buzzer-beating shot from 2022 No. 3 pick Jabari Smith Jr.
Jason Quick and Kelly Iko contributed to this report.
(Photo: Lucas Peltier/USA Today)
