Trail Blazers News: Scoot Henderson Impresses In Rookie-Heavy Showcase Vs Rockets

During the Portland Trail Blazers' 60th defeat of the 2023-24 season, a 116-107 Friday night loss against another lottery-bound club in the No. 11-seeded Houston Rockets, the most interesting action became observing the play of three key rookies.

In playing against top Rockets rookie wing Amen Thompson, the No. 5 pick in last year's draft, and guard Cam Whitmore, who slipped from a lottery prospect down to the No. 20 pick last summer, No. 3 overall pick Scoot Henderson impressed his Portland head coach, Chauncey Billups, writes Anne M. Peterson of The Associated Press/NBA.com.

Drawing the start for an injury-depleted Portland club, Henderson scored a team-high 30 points on 10-of-23 shooting from the floor (6-of-7 from deep) and 4-of-5 from the foul line, while dishing out seven assists, grabbing five rebounds, swiping one steal and blocking one shot. He's had an uneven debut NBA season, but has been at least coming on of late.

“I was happy to see him come in and really dominate the game today and take care of the ball. One turnover. That was my big takeaway for him, especially against a team like that, that pressures and turns you over, and plays physical,” Billups said.

Thompson had 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, plus 15 rebounds and six assists. Whitmore chipped in 11 off Houston's bench, on 4-of-14 shooting from the field.