NBA: Scoot Henderson, Blazers add to Pacers' misery in dominant win

Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson scored a season-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead Portland to a 131-111 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.

Jrue Holiday added 21 points, hitting five 3-pointers, while Jerami Grant also scored 21 points, including four from beyond the arc. The win marked Portland’s second in three games.

All-Star Deni Avdija returned from a six-game absence, contributing 18 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in 25 minutes. Henderson also added six assists and committed no turnovers in 26 minutes. Off the bench, Robert Williams III scored 12 points, and starters Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan each grabbed 11 rebounds.

For Indiana, Pascal Siakam led with 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists as the Pacers dropped their ninth straight game. The team has lost its last six contests by an average of 19.7 points. Jay Huff scored 16 points, Andrew Nembhard had 14 points and nine assists, and Jarace Walker added 14 points. Micah Potter chipped in 13 points off the bench.

Portland shot 50.5% from the field and 15 of 41 from 3-point range, holding a 53-38 edge on the boards. The Pacers made 43.2% of their shots, including 14 of 42 from behind the arc.

Henderson scored 19 points in the first half as Portland built a 69-52 lead at the break. After a 30-30 tie at the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers outscored Indiana 70-50 over the next two periods. Indiana briefly led 45-44 on a Nembhard 19-footer, but Portland responded with 20 of the next 22 points, capped by a Grant layup.

Holiday opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer to make it 72-52. Indiana cut the lead to 13 with 8:25 left, but Portland controlled the rest of the quarter, entering the final period ahead 100-80. Camara and Henderson hit 3-pointers in a 13-6 run as the lead reached a game-high 24 at 123-99 with 4:50 remaining.

-Field Level Media/Reuters