The Portland Trail Blazers had a center-sized absence in their lineup for their Wednesday game agains the Brooklyn Nets, and not for reasons you might think. Deandre Ayton has missed the last 11 games for the Blazers due to a knee injury but he was set to return to the lineup against the Nets. There was only one problem, Ayton was unable to get to the area due to a massive ice storm that hit the Portland area. Ayton had apparently tried for hours to leave his home and get to the arena but was unable to as per Blazers reporter Casey Holdahl.
Ayton tried for hours to combat the sheet of ice leading out of his neighborhood and the team sent people out to help as well, but to no avail, so he is out for tonight’s game versus Brooklyn https://t.co/Oa0Rv3Wbms
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) January 18, 2024
The Blazers and their fans will have to wait at least one more game to see Deandre Ayton back in the lineup. Ayton is in his first season with the Blazers after being part of the multiple team trade that brought Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ayton's 2023-24 season has been a little underwhelming thus far. He's averaged a career-low 13.1 points per game, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals with splits of 54.8 percent shooting from the field and 77.8 percent shooting from the free throw line.
It was originally assumed that Ayton would thrive in a bigger role especially offensively than he had with the Phoenix Suns. That just hasn't materialized yet this season. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Ayton has been a consistent double-double threat throughout his career so far.
Ayton played his first five seasons with the Suns. He was a key part of the Suns team that made a run to the 2021 NBA Finals.
Follow Us
Subscribe