Blazers Defeat Grizzlies, Look for Series Sweep

Scoot Henderson shines in return as Portland cruises to 135-115 victory

Feb. 7, 2026 at 10:15am

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The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 135-115 on Friday night, led by a strong performance from third-year pro Scoot Henderson in his return from injury. Henderson scored 11 points, dished out 9 assists, and grabbed 5 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. The Blazers shot 54.4% from the field and 40.5% from three-point range in the win, which snapped a six-game losing streak. Portland will look to complete the two-game sweep when the teams meet again on Saturday.

Why it matters

The Blazers' win was an important one as they try to climb back into playoff position in the Western Conference. Henderson's return from a torn left hamstring provides a boost to the team's lineup and could help spark a turnaround. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are dealing with the absence of star Jaren Jackson Jr., who was recently traded to the Utah Jazz.

The details

Henderson fit in quickly with his Blazers teammates, making crisp passes and providing energy off the bench. Jerami Grant led Portland with 23 points, while Jrue Holiday added 20 points and 7 assists. The Grizzlies struggled defensively, allowing 81 points over the middle two quarters as the Blazers pulled away. Cam Spencer scored 18 points off the bench for Memphis, and Scotty Pippen Jr. made his season debut, scoring 13 points with 6 assists.

  • The Blazers and Grizzlies will meet again on Saturday night for the second game of their back-to-back set.

The players

Scoot Henderson

A third-year pro for the Portland Trail Blazers who returned from a torn left hamstring to contribute 11 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.

Jerami Grant

The Blazers' leading scorer in the game, pouring in 23 points to help Portland cruise to the 135-115 victory.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

The former Defensive Player of the Year for the Grizzlies, who was recently traded to the Utah Jazz in an eight-player deal.

Scotty Pippen Jr.

The son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, who made his season debut for the Grizzlies after recovering from left big toe surgery.

Tuomas Iisalo

The head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, who was pleased with his team's energy and competitiveness early but lamented their defensive lapses in the middle quarters that allowed the Blazers to pull away.

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What they’re saying

“All those days when they (were) playing and I wasn't, I was just soaking up the game and soaking up what we needed. I came out there and tried to provide that. That was moving the ball, staying connected and playing fast.”

— Scoot Henderson (statenews.net)

“I love how we started the game, just the energy, the enthusiasm, the competitive will from our whole team and how we shared the ball. I think there's some positives from this game that we can build off and take into (Saturday).”

— Tuomas Iisalo, Grizzlies Head Coach (statenews.net)

What’s next

The Blazers and Grizzlies will meet again on Saturday night as Portland looks to complete the two-game sweep.

The takeaway

Scoot Henderson's return from injury provided a much-needed boost for the Blazers, who snapped a six-game losing streak with their dominant performance. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are adjusting to life without Jaren Jackson Jr. after his trade, but showed promising signs early that they hope to build on in the rematch.