The Portland Trail Blazers pulled off a big surprise on Tuesday, upsetting the San Antonio Spurs 106-103 in Game 2. The win evened the first-round series at 1-1, and with Victor Wembanyama injured, there is a growing sense among Portland fans that an upset might be on the cards.
For that to happen, though, many believe the team would need Damian Lillard back on the court. His presence would give Portland its best chance of advancing to the next round. Earlier in the 2025-26 season, the Blazers made it clear that Lillard would not return during the playoffs. Ahead of Game 1 against the Spurs, interim head coach Tiago Splitter reinforced that stance, explaining that Lillard’s recovery is focused entirely on next season.
“I don’t think so,” Splitter told. “He’s had his head on next season. We’ve got to be serious about it. Of course, we joke about it here and there, but he’s got a plan and we’re all going to follow that.”
Lillard has been sidelined all season after suffering a torn left Achilles tendon during last year’s postseason. The only time fans saw him in a Blazers uniform this year was during All-Star Weekend, where he won the Three-Point Contest.
However, Portland did cause a stir among fans on Wednesday, a day after beating San Antonio, when it posted a video of Lillard walking on the court and shooting around. As things stand though, it doesn’t look like Lillard will be back this season.
Damian Lillard hypes guard replacement following game-winning performance against Spurs
With Damian Lillard sidelined, the Portland Trail Blazers coaching staff made the call to pair Jrue Holiday with Scoot Henderson in the starting backcourt. Henderson got off to a somewhat quiet start in the series, putting up 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists in Game 1. He shot an efficient 7-11 from the field, but it still was not enough to stop the Blazers from losing 111-98.
However, Henderson stepped up in Game 2, leading all scorers with 31 points and playing a key role in the team’s 106-103 win. His performance even earned praise from Lillard, who credited him for helping guide the Blazers to the victory.
Now, as the series shifts to Portland for Games 3 and 4, the Blazers will try to build on that momentum. They will also look to take advantage if Victor Wembanyama remains in concussion protocol.
Read More: NBA Concussion Protocol Length: Victor Wembanyama’s Potential Return Timeline Explored
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