The Utah Jazz will be without Lauri Markkanen for at least one month.
Markkanen has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand, according to a report Wednesday. He has not played since Nov. 6, when Utah lost 112-100 to the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.
Markkanen had 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist in 34 minutes that night. He shot 8-of-20 from the field and 8-of-15 from 3-point range, and all 8 of his made field goals were 3-pointers. He did not attempt a free throw.
That was his third straight game with at least 20 points. On Nov. 2, he scored 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting with 8 rebounds in a 119-97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Two nights later, he had 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 120-113 overtime loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Through eight games, all starts, Markkanen is averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 30.9 minutes. He is shooting 38.9% from the field, 39.7% on 9.1 3-point attempts per game, and 84.4% at the free-throw line, according to Basketball-Reference.
On Oct. 25, he scored 28 points in a 132-123 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He played 6 minutes against the Memphis Grizzlies the next night and did not play in Utah’s 117-111 overtime loss to San Antonio on Oct. 28.
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Markkanen seventh overall in 2017. He spent his first four NBA seasons with the Chicago Bulls and one with the Cleveland Cavaliers before joining Utah for the 2022-23 season. That year, he averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds in 66 games, made the All-Star team, and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Last season, he averaged 26.7 points in 42 games. Across five seasons with the Jazz, he has averaged 23.5 points in 218 games.
Utah is 1-10 and has lost nine straight games. Its only win came Oct. 23, when it beat New Orleans 120-119.
Markkanen also missed Sunday’s loss at Minnesota and Tuesday’s 115-109 home loss to the Miami Heat. Keyonte George sprained his ankle against Minnesota, according to the team, and the Jazz played Miami without George, Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkić.
With those four starters out, Darryn Peterson, the second overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, moved to point guard in the starting lineup and led Utah with 25 points and 5 assists. Ace Bailey added 23 points and 7 rebounds. Off the bench, Isaiah Collier had 17 points and 5 assists, going 4-of-4 from 3-point range in the fourth quarter.
Collier spoke after the game in comments posted on the team’s website.
“That was the goal for me to bring energy today,” Collier said. “We have major guys down. I’m just trying to bring the juice for the team.”
Utah finishes a back-to-back Wednesday against the Orlando Magic at Delta Center, with tip-off at 9 p.m. ET. The Jazz visit the Houston Rockets on Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET and host San Antonio on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
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