Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen will be sidelined for at least two weeks after an MRI revealed a hip impingement with associated inflammation and a bone bruise, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday. The injury occurred during a practice session on Wednesday.
Markkanen similarly experienced a twisted ankle during the same practice, but subsequent tests showed no structural damage, according to Charania. The Jazz are already navigating a series of significant injuries, with Jusuf Nurkić, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Walker Kessler all previously sidelined for the remainder of the season due to knee and nose surgeries, respectively.
The loss of Markkanen, who is averaging a career-high 26.7 points per game, represents a substantial blow to the Jazz, despite their current standing. Utah holds a record of 18-40, placing them sixth-worst in the NBA as of Friday, February 27, 2026.
The Jazz recently drew scrutiny from the NBA for what Commissioner Adam Silver termed “overt” tanking behavior, resulting in a $500,000 fine. The league took issue with a strategy of limiting Markkanen and Jackson Jr.’s playing time, particularly in the fourth quarter of games, in an apparent effort to secure a higher draft pick.
Initial reports from The Athletic’s Tony Jones suggested the NBA would send independent doctors to Utah to assess the legitimacy of Markkanen’s MRI results. But, Jones later clarified that the league was simply reviewing the medical reports as standard procedure, and was not dispatching additional medical personnel.
Utah currently possesses the sixth-worst record in the NBA, ahead of only the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans. The Jazz’s first-round draft pick in 2026 belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but is top-eight protected, incentivizing the team to maintain a low ranking in the standings.
Markkanen has played in 42 games this season, also averaging 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and one steal per game. He most recently scored 29 points in 32 minutes against the Houston Rockets on Monday, February 23, 2026.
