Is Deandre Ayton playing tonight? Injury, lineup updates for Blazers vs. Knicks

The Portland Trail Blazers have been without Robert Williams III since the first few weeks of the season and just lost another center to a wrist injury that will require surgery. Deandre Ayton has missed seven consecutive games and nine of the Blazers' last 16. Duop Reath and Ibou Badji have been holding down the fort - not a center rotation that will put fear in opponents.

Will Ayton give head coach Chauncey Billups a major boost and return to the starting lineup tonight?

Is Deandre Ayton playing for the Blazers tonight?

Earlier today, Ayton was listed as out for tonight's game against the New York Knicks. In a bit of (rare) positive injury news, the 25-year-old center has been upgraded to doubtful.

That doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement of the Portland big man's availability, but an upgrade is an upgrade.

A pair of other Blazers are day-to-day and listed as questionable for tonight's game in New York.

The Knicks, meanwhile, are six games over .500 and nearly at full health, which will make tonight's game another tough road contest for Portland.

Full injury report for Trail Blazers at Knicks

The complete injury report for tonight's game is as follows:

Portland Trail Blazers

Out: Moses Brown (wrist); Robert Williams III (knee)

Doubtful: Deandre Ayton (knee)

Questionable: Matisse Thybulle (foot); Jabari Walker (knee)

New York Knicks

Out: Mitchell Robinson (ankle)