Portland Trail Blazers starting center Deandre Ayton, considered a key trade chip for Portland this season (or, at least, hoped to be one by Trail Blazers brass

On Thursday night, the Portland Trail Blazers will be in Florida to play the Orlando Magic. For the game, the Trail Blazers could be without one of their best

Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton had one of his best all-around games Tuesday night at the Miami Heat, drawing praise from coach Chauncey Billups. Ayton scored 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting and grabbed 15 rebounds during a 116-107 victory to start a three-game trip.

Ayton recorded 22 points (11-14 FG, 0-1 3Pt), 15 rebounds, two assists and one steal across 34 minutes in Tuesday's 116-107 win over the Heat before checking out of the game with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter to receive treatment on the bench for an apparent lower-body injury,

Portland would end up shipping Ayton to Sacramento for quite a haul in this trade. That would leave Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III as the two futures at the center spot in Portland.

TV channel: KATU (Antenna: 2.2 in Portland. Xfinity: 302 and 1170. DirecTV: 688-1. KUNP (Antenna: 47.1. Xfinity: 16, 302, 1170. DirecTV: 47. Spectrum: 184).

In this new trade idea from Eddie Bitar of Fadeaway World, the Kings take a gamble and land a former first-overall draft pick. The deal would be between the Kings and Portland Trail Blazers, sending Deandre Ayton to Sacramento. Here is what the deal could look like:

Mathew is an avid sports fan who loves basketball. He has a soft spot for Denver sports in particular and has been involved with sports writing for close to 7 years now. He likes to utilize both ...

(AP Photo/Amanda Loman) Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson (2) brings the ball up court as Portland Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda ...

Portland will try to end its four-game slide when the Portland Trail Blazers take on Houston. The teams meet Saturday for the first time this season.

Brooklyn Nets (13-26, 12th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (13-25, 13th in the Western Conference) Portland, Oregon; Tuesday, 10 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn comes into the matchup with Portland after losing five in a row.

Ayton (knee) has been listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Magic, Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland reports. Ayton is coming off one of his best performances of the season for the Trail Blazers,