Trail Blazers beat Spurs 134-128 to split 2-game set in Portland
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Jerami Grant and Malcolm Brogdon each scored 27 points and the Portland Trail Blazers took advantage of San Antonio rookie star Victor Wembanyama’s absence to beat the Spurs 134-128 on Friday night for a split in the two-game set.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Jabari Walker runs back to defend against the San Antonio Spurs during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Wembanyama rested on the second night of a back-to-back after the rookie rolled an ankle earlier this month. He had 30 points Thursday night in San Antonio’s 118-105 victory.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, left, drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Brogdon also had seven assists. Jabari Walker scored a career-high 25 points, and rookie Scoot Henderson added 21 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
“That was probably his best game so far,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said about Henderson.
Henderson wowed the crowd with a wrap-around assist in the second quarter to Matisse Thybulle.
“Oh man, I didn’t know what that was,” Walker said about Henderson’s eye-popping pass. “He’s got some stuff.”
Keldon Johnson scored 27 points for San Antonio.
“I thought we played horrendously, getting down by 26,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They made shots, we didn’t make them, that’s the NBA. But their physicality, I thought, was great. Chauncey had them ready. They didn’t want to have a night like last night.”
The Spurs cut it to five in the final seconds. Portland was 16 of 27 from 3-point range, while San Antonio was 14 of 33.
San Antonio Spurs guard Malaki Branham, right, calls to teammates, next to Portland Trail Blazers guard Matisse Thybulle during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
In the first half, Grant scored 20 points and Henderson had 11 points and seven assists to help Portland take a 71-56 lead. Portland scored 14 points off 11 turnovers in the half. San Antonio cut it to 104-94 heading into the fourth.
The Trail Blazers were once again without key players as well, missing leading scorer Anfernee Simons for the second straight game because of an illness.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, middle, drives against Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
UP NEXT
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, right, speaks with a referee during the second half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Spurs: Host Boston on Sunday night.
Trail Blazers: At Phoenix on Monday night.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Portland Trail Blazers center Ibou Badji, left, defends as San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan looks to inbound the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, right, smiles during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson shoots against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)
San Antonio Spurs guard Malaki Branham walks back to the bench during the first half of the team’s NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Howard Lao)