Top picks Henderson, Thompson hurt in debuts

LAS VEGAS — Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson and Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson placed on spectacular shows of their summer time league debuts Friday, however left what in the end turned a 100-99 Houston win with accidents.

Henderson, the No. 3 general choose by Portland, exited within the third quarter with a proper shoulder damage and did not return. Thompson, in the meantime, left with an obvious left ankle damage after taking a clumsy fall when he tried to dam a shot underneath the basket within the fourth quarter. He, too, did not come again within the recreation after his damage.

“It is fairly sore,” stated Thompson, who added it was as much as Houston’s coaching workers to find out whether or not he would return for extra summer time league motion. “I simply blocked the shot and landed on his foot, twisted my ankle.”

Henderson did not converse to reporters after the sport, although he walked via the media space with out something seen on his arm or shoulder.

Blazers summer time league coach Jonah Herscu stated he did not have any updates on Henderson’s damage.

“I have never talked to the trainers but,” he stated. “They have been simply being cautious with it.”

Herscu later stated he did not see when the damage occurred.

Earlier than they exited the sport — one performed in entrance of the second sellout crowd within the historical past of the Las Vegas Summer time League forward of the debut of No. 1 general choose Victor Wembanyama for the san antonio spurs within the recreation to observe — Henderson and Thompson confirmed why Portland and Houston, respectively, chosen them close to the highest of the lottery.

Each gamers confirmed spectacular flashes all through. Henderson, 19, completed with 15 factors, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, whereas Thompson had 16 factors, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks in 28 minutes.

When Portland drafted Henderson, it was a transparent signal of the place issues have been headed with celebrity guard Damian Lillardwho on July 1, formally requested a commerce away from the one group he has ever performed for after seeing Portland wasn’t going to be including veterans in free company.

With Portland’s basic supervisor, Joe Cronin, sitting courtside Friday evening, the 6-foot-3 Henderson confirmed off the dimensions, pace and power that had him in a back-and-forth battle with Brandon Miller to be chosen by the Charlotte Hornets with the second choose.

Henderson bought into the lane at will, both organising teammates for open 3s on the perimeter or attending to the rim for layups. He additionally hit a few pull-up jumpers within the early within the recreation. And whereas his jumper was a bit off as the sport progressed, he discovered methods to be concerned at each ends of the courtroom, getting his palms on a number of balls defensively and persevering with to push the tempo.

That a lot of his recreation at each ends of the courtroom noticed Henderson going head-to-head with Thompson solely added to the intrigue.

“Scoot was nice,” Herscu stated. “When he is in an assault mindset and getting within the paint, it is actually good. And level guard is the primary line of protection defensively, so I believed his strain on Thompson was actually good, selecting him up close to half courtroom, within the again courtroom. And so I believed he performed with good thrust tonight.”

Thompson was no slouch, both. The playmaking 6-foot-7 guard confirmed why he was the best participant ever drafted out of the Time beyond regulation Elite program — one spot forward of his twin brother, Ausar, who went fifth to Detroit.

Thompson confirmed a really spectacular really feel for the sport, repeatedly making the fitting play with the ball. He additionally made a few slick passes that drew cheers from the gang. He regarded fully relaxed at each ends.

“We regarded means higher than we did in apply,” Thompson stated, “and simply transferring the ball. I simply felt like we performed a superb recreation.”

After Henderson and Thompson left the sport, there was nonetheless loads of pleasure down the stretch in a recreation that includes a number of first-round picks on each side over the previous couple of drafts. Henderson’s doubtless backcourt mate in Portland this season, Shaedon Sharpe — the No. 7 choose in final yr’s draft — had 21 factors and eight rebounds, however it was the No. 3 choose in final yr’s draft — Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. — who stole the present, ending with 33 factors and seven rebounds, together with the game-winning 3-pointer on the buzzer off a cross from Tari Eason.

“I do not understand how Tari made that incredible sort of hook cross and led him,” Rockets summer time league coach Ben Sullivan stated. “After which from my angle, Jabari caught it. I do not assume he introduced it down, and simply let it go. Thankfully, it went in.”