Blazers’ Deandre Ayton Out vs. Nets After Ice Prevents Him From Leaving Neighborhood

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Deandre Ayton was set to return to the floor for the Portland Trail Blazers for the first time since Dec. 23, but the weather had different ideas.

Trail Blazers reporter Casey Holdahl noted head coach Chauncey Billups said the big man was ready to play in Wednesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets despite a previous knee injury that kept him sidelined.

However, Ayton was unable to get to the arena after he “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.”

That means Portland will need to deal with another opponent without the big man it acquired this past offseason in the trade that also sent Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Ayton has appeared in 24 games this season and is averaging a double-double of 13.1 points and 10.8 rebounds. He has been a bright spot for a team that is just 10-29 and already largely playing out the string in a lost season.

Portland will remain home for a Friday game against the Indiana Pacers, so Ayton will ideally be ready to go and able to get to the arena for that one.

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