Even professional athletes have their share of snowy days, but Wednesday was more of an ice storm for Trail Blazers star Deandre Ayton.
The severe weather that hit the Portland area on Tuesday wreaked havoc the next day, preventing Ayton from arriving at Moda Center to play against the Nets.
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups told reporters before the game that Ayton had already missed 11 games with right knee tendonitis and was scheduled to return to action on Wednesday. According to Oregon Live.
“Ayton tried for hours to fight the ice sheets coming from the neighborhood, and teams sent personnel to help, but to no avail.” Trail Blazers team reporter Casey Holdahl wrote about X.
The Trail Blazers entered the game with a 10-29 record on the season, but were 3-8 without Ayton in the lineup.
Ayton has not played in a game since the Trail Blazers' road loss to the Warriors on Dec. 23.
He is in his first full season with the Trail Blazers since being acquired in a trade with the Suns last season.
Ayton averaged 13.1 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent from the floor.
He should be able to return to the court Friday against Portland and Indiana.
Severe winter weather has hit the Pacific Northwest, creating dangerous conditions and leaving 50,000 Oregonians without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
Icy roads in Portland are making driving difficult, and more freezing rain is possible in the area Thursday, according to KOIN.
