Late last season, Ayton put together an impressive 15-game run, averaging 23.2 points and 12.4 rebounds per game. But those nights came when the team was in full-on tank mode with many of the team’s other key players on the injured list. The team went 4-11 in those games.

I don’t really care about that,” Ayton told reporters after the matchup. Portland head coach Chauncey Billups believes Shaedon Sharpe plays at a higher level when opponents

Deandre Ayton had 24 points on 11-of-12 shooting against his former team and the Portland Trail Blazers opened a two-game set against the Phoenix Suns with a 127-108 victory Saturday night.