Trail Blazers news: Critical Scoot game, record-setting season, updated lottery standings
Here's the latest Portland Trail Blazers news for April 13, including Scoot Henderson's massive game (despite a loss to the Houston Rockets) that had nothing to do with his 30 points or six threes and the NBA Draft lottery standings with one day left in the regular season.
Scoot Henderson has 30, 5, 7...and 1
Henderson had one of his best games of the season in Portland's home finale. Sure, the Trail Blazers rookie finished with 30 points, only three off his career-high. He hit a career-best six 3-pointers and finished 6-of-7 from deep. He had a highlight-reel steal and and-one flush.
He also had only 1 turnover.
Scoot's most critical issues during a rocky rookie campaign have been inefficient shooting and turnovers. He had 17 giveaways in the Blazers' last two games alone and has averaged 5.8 in the team's last 10. The scoring is great and so are the threes, but taking care of the ball will be the most important development Scoot can have between year one and year two.
Officially one of the worst seasons in franchise history
The Blazers' 116-107 loss to Houston in their final home game of the season was their 60th of the year. It's only the fourth time in franchise history the team has lost 60 games and the first time in almost 20 years.
A pair of those seasons came in the second and third years of the franchise's existence.
Updated NBA draft lottery standings
Despite the above ignominy, the Trail Blazers aren't even in the running for the best odds at the 2024 NBA draft's No. 1 pick. Those go to the Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets, which have 67, 66 and 61 losses, respectively.
At least Portland's run of two wins in their last 16 games has given them a shot at the league's fourth-worst record.
It will be an important final day of the regular season. The San Antonio Spurs have rallied to win three of their last five, which gives them the same 21-60 record as the Blazers.
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Rip City plays its final game on the road at a Sacramento Kings team fighting for play-in seeding, while the Spurs host the league-worst Pistons. A Portland loss and San Antonio win would lock the Trail Blazers into at least the fourth-best odds at landing the No. 1 selection this summer.