Deandre Ayton, the center for the Portland Trail Blazers, will be absent from Wednesday night’s game against the Brooklyn Nets due to an unusual reason: ice. Ayton couldn’t make it to the Moda Center in Portland because thick ice covered his neighborhood, making it impossible for him to leave. Despite attempts by the Trail Blazers’ team members to rescue him, no one could navigate through the icy conditions to reach Ayton’s house.
Deandre Ayton (icy roads) will miss the Blazers' game vs. the Nets. pic.twitter.com/AcCBkYlkYV
— theScore (@theScore) January 18, 2024
As a result, Ayton appeared on the Trail Blazers’ injury report as “not with the team,” with no actual injury listed. The team’s efforts to retrieve Ayton in the icy weather haven’t been disclosed.
The Portland area, along with the rest of Oregon, faced severe winter storms, leading to power outages for more than 50,000 residents. The roads resembled ice rinks rather than drivable surfaces for cars, creating challenging conditions for travel.
