Scotty Pippen Jr. made his season debut for the Memphis Grizzlies after recovering from a left big toe surgery, expressing that he now feels much healthier after a long rehabilitation process. In his first game back, he scored 13 points, with three rebounds and six assists in 22 minutes, with his father watching courtside. Pippen had undergone a sesamoidectomy to address persistent toe discomfort, and last season averaged 9.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 79 games. Meanwhile, Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson also returned from injury, coming off the bench to score 11 points, with five rebounds and nine assists in 21 minutes, in his first game since March 2025. Henderson had recovered from a torn left hamstring and was limited in minutes, entering the game with 7:39 left in the first quarter. Additionally, NBA star Domantas Sabonis was reported to be available to play against Memphis despite a back injury. The game featured the debut of Pippen Jr. and Henderson, with the Blazers winning 135-115. Pippen described feeling significantly better physically, signaling a positive step in his recovery, while Henderson’s return was highly anticipated after missing the previous season due to injury.