Kofi Inkoom
Deandre Ayton will be OUT from tonight’s match against the Utah Jazz due to back soreness, making a last-minute decision.
Duop Reath is set to take the starting position in his absence joining Malcolm Brogdon, Shaedon Sharpe, Jerami Grant, and Toumani Camara for tonight.
Ayton’s been a constant in all 14 games this season, putting up solid numbers—12.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game, shooting an impressive 57.4% from the field.
However, the Trail Blazers are in a tough spot, sitting at 3-11 with an unfortunate eight-game losing streak. Their latest hit was a 120-107 loss to the Phoenix Suns, where Ayton shone with 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block in 31 minutes.
The last ten games have been a struggle for the Trail Blazers, going 2-8 overall, and hosting games in Oregon hasn’t been much of a home advantage with a 1-5 record.
Ayton, now in his debut season with the Trail Blazers after a five-year stint with the Suns as the first pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, is navigating a challenging start.
Looking forward, the Trail Blazers will be getting ready for another showdown against the Milwaukee Bucks. What makes this match especially intriguing is that it will be Damian Lillard’s first encounter with his former team in a different team’s storyline.
This much-anticipated matchup is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Wisconsin, following tonight’s game against the Jazz.