‘Locked in’ Scoot Henderson growing as floor leader for Trail Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson found himself in the starting lineup during Thursday night’s 119-90 win over the Orlando Magic, and he came through with another standout performance.

Starting in place of forward Jerami Grant (ankle), Henderson not only scored 23 points to go with seven assists but also guided and orchestrated the team with great skill, pace, controlled aggressiveness and floor generalship.

“I thought Scoot was excellent the entire night,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. “I thought he picked his spots very well.”

Orlando ranks third in defensive rating (108.5), but the Blazers carved through the Magic while shooting 52.6% from the field, their fifth-best showing all season.

Much of that was due to Henderson, who kept the offense in rhythm and on time.

“He knocked down his shots, but his play-making was good, his defense was good,” Billups said. “He was scrappy out there. It was just a great floor game the entire way through for Scoot.”

Henderson’s ability to get into the paint, Billups said, was paramount.

“Just needing his intention to get to that basket was going to be huge against such an elite defensive team,” Billups said.

Four of Henderson’s baskets came at the rim and he went 3 of 5 from three-point range.

“I was just locked in and ready to go,” Henderson said.

Center Deandre Ayton also credited Henderson for getting into the paint to break down Orlando’s defense. Ayton called Henderson’s play both “amazing” and “phenomenal,” especially when he got into the open court.

“He’s damn near a one-man fast break,” Ayton said.

Henderson’s leadership skills have started to take root. He is now often calling for and breaking team huddles.

“His energy has been crazy,” Ayton said. “He’s becoming a true point guard, being very vocal, talking to everybody.”

Henderson’s leadership skills set him apart from the less-assertive Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe. It’s a trait the Blazers have lacked since trading Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks before the 2023 season. Leading is something Henderson, 20, embraces, including holding others accountable for their play.

“My goal is to be more of a voice, to be more talkative for everybody,” Henderson said. “And that’s kind of what I’ve been doing, just talking more and kind of being a leader while I’m out there.”

Henderson is not a regular starter at the moment. Because of injuries, he has started five of the team’s last 10 games. Before that, he had made just three starts in 31 games.

But statistically, Henderson has been arguably the team’s best player since scoring a career-high 39 points during a Jan. 14 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.

Since that night, Henderson has averaged 17.6 points and 5.9 assists while shooting 51.3% from the field and 49.1% from three-point range.

He scored just 17 points across three games during that stretch, but he shot 7 of 15 from the field and produced 14 assists in those contests.

Henderson’s shooting has been so good that he boosted his field goal percentage from 39.9% entering the Nets game to 43.1%. His three-point shooting has jumped from 29.9% to 36.4%.

The Blazers (19-29), winners of six of their last seven games, host the Phoenix Suns (24-22) at 7 p.m. Saturday.