Scoot Henderson delivered his best performance of the season with 31 points, leading Portland’s dramatic comeback from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat San Antonio 106-103 on Tuesday night, tying their Western Conference first-round playoff series at one game apiece.
The series shifts to Portland for Game 3 on Friday, but San Antonio’s chances took a major hit when Victor Wembanyama suffered a concussion after hitting his face on the court during the second quarter. The reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year will undergo additional evaluation on Wednesday, leaving his availability for the next game uncertain.
San Antonio appeared in control after opening the final quarter with a 13-0 scoring surge that extended their one-point lead to 93-79. However, Portland responded with a crucial 7-0 run late in the game, taking the lead on a Jrue Holiday layup with 2:02 remaining and maintaining that advantage until the final buzzer.
Holiday contributed 16 points and nine assists to Portland’s victory, while Deni Avdija chipped in 14 points. For the Spurs, Stephon Castle led all scorers with 18 points, De’Aaron Fox added 17 points, and Devin Vassell recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
In other playoff action, LeBron James powered the Lakers to a 101-94 win over Houston with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, giving Los Angeles a commanding 2-0 series lead. Marcus Smart provided excellent support with 25 points on strong three-point shooting, while Luke Kennard added 23 points despite the absence of injured stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia bounced back from a disappointing Game 1 loss by defeating Boston 111-97 to even their Eastern Conference series. VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined for 59 points and knocked down 11 three-pointers, helping the 76ers shoot an impressive 48.7% from beyond the arc after managing just four three-pointers in their series opener.
