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Portland Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson Returns from Injury Ahead of Play-In Tournament

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Scoot Henderson Returns to Lead Trail Blazers into Play-In Tournament

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, who missed the first 51 games of the 2024-25 NBA season with a torn left hamstring, has returned to the lineup as the team prepares for the Western Conference play-in tournament. Henderson discussed his recovery process and the team's postseason outlook in an interview on April 10. The Trail Blazers, who finished the regular season with a 42-40 record, will face the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Injury and Recovery Timeline

  • Henderson sustained a torn left hamstring prior to the start of the 2024-25 season.
  • He missed the first 51 games before returning to play on February 6, 2025.
  • Since his return, Henderson has appeared in 30 regular season games for the Trail Blazers.
  • During his rehabilitation, he worked out alongside teammate Damian Lillard, who is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.

Henderson's Mindset During Recovery

In his April 10 interview, Henderson discussed his mindset following the significant injury.

"I never felt bad for myself," Henderson stated, explaining that he accepted the injury when it occurred and focused entirely on recovery.

He credited his faith and family for supporting him through the process and expressed that he missed traveling with teammates and being on the court during his absence.

Reflecting on his approach to adversity, Henderson said, "I've been through so many ups and downs in my basketball and life in general that the only way you can kind of get over something is you don't try to cry about it or whine about it."

Team and Player Performance

Team Standings

The Portland Trail Blazers finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 42-40 record, securing the eighth seed in the Western Conference.

Henderson's Season Statistics

  • Averaged 14.2 points, 3.7 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game over his 30 appearances.
  • Scored a season-high 28 points against the Indiana Pacers on March 8, 2025.
  • In the 18 games following March 8, he averaged 15.9 points per game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range.
  • The Trail Blazers' record during that 18-game stretch was 12-6.

Career Context

  • Henderson was selected third overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
  • In his rookie season (2023-24), he averaged 14.1 points per game on 38.5% shooting. The Trail Blazers finished 21-61.
  • In his second season, his scoring average was 12.7 points per game, while his field goal percentage improved to 41.9%. The team finished 36-46.

Upcoming Play-In Tournament

  • The Trail Blazers, as the eighth seed, will face the seventh-seed Phoenix Suns (45-37) in a play-in tournament game on Tuesday, April 15.
  • The winner of that game will secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
  • The loser will host the winner of the play-in game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors for the conference's eighth and final playoff seed.

Team Outlook and Additional Context

Henderson stated the Trail Blazers have a "win mentality" entering the postseason. He acknowledged he is still working toward his personal expectations and described the play-in tournament as "a bigger stage to play on."

The Portland Trail Blazers were featured on national television six times during the regular season. A playoff berth would be the first of Henderson's NBA career.