Utah’s frontcourt took a hit Monday night, and now the Jazz are waiting on imaging to tell them how serious it might be.
Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. both left Utah’s 110-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first half and will undergo MRIs on Tuesday, according to the team. Markkanen dealt with a right wrist injury, while Jackson hurt his right knee. ESPN reported both players were ruled out for the rest of the game, and coach Will Hardy said there wasn’t an immediate update afterward.
“We’ll know more tomorrow once they get some imaging,” Hardy said.
Markkanen’s exit came first. With 5:58 left in the opening quarter, he headed to the locker room holding his right wrist after his arm got caught between Jackson and Memphis forward Cameron Boozer on the perimeter. He played just six minutes and finished with two points.
Jackson later left with 10:04 remaining in the second quarter. Against his former team, he logged 10 minutes and posted six points, three rebounds and two assists before exiting.
The injuries come at a time when Utah was already thin up front. Center Jusuf Nurkic is out with a toe injury, and Jaxson Hayes missed Monday’s game because of right shoulder soreness, according to Yahoo Sports and Hoops Rumors.
There’s also been enough production from the pair to make their absence sting. Through Utah’s first three games, Markkanen had averaged 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while Jackson was putting up 19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. Jackson, acquired from Memphis last season, had played only three games for Utah before season-ending surgery on his left knee.
The loss dropped the Jazz to 1-3 and fifth in the Northwest Division. Jazz assistant coach Jason Terry has pointed to the Markkanen-Jackson pairing as part of the team’s path back to the playoffs.
Utah’s next chance to regroup comes Wednesday at home against the San Antonio Spurs at 9 p.m. ET, followed by another home game Saturday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
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