The Portland Trail Blazers faced another setback as center Deandre Ayton suffered a right-hand sprain during their recent game against the Miami Heat. The collision with Miami’s Kevin Love caused Ayton to fall awkwardly, leading to concerns about the severity of his injury.

Despite initially continuing to play, Ayton was eventually ruled out for the second half. However, the team received a crucial update from head coach Chauncey Billups, who revealed that x-rays on Ayton’s right hand came back negative, indicating no broken bones.

During the game, the Blazers initially held a significant lead, but without Ayton’s presence in the later quarters, the Heat managed to stage a comeback and secure the victory. Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant delivered strong performances for the Blazers, while Jimmy Butler led the charge for Miami.

Looking ahead, the Blazers aim to break their losing streak as they prepare to face the Memphis Grizzlies in their upcoming game.