The Utah Jazz are keeping a close eye on Lauri Markkanen’s status ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. The All-Star forward is officially listed as questionable with a right groin injury, and while that designation doesn’t rule him out, it certainly puts his availability in doubt.
Markkanen has been dealing with this groin issue for a stretch now, and Utah is clearly taking the long view when it comes to his health. Managing a soft tissue injury like this - especially for a player who plays with as much movement and finesse as Markkanen - requires patience. The Jazz aren’t rushing anything, and that’s the smart play.
And make no mistake: Utah needs him. Markkanen has been the engine behind the Jazz offense, spacing the floor with his shooting, attacking mismatches, and providing a steady scoring presence. Against a Lakers team that’s still dangerous, even if inconsistent, his presence could be the difference between competing and chasing.
On top of the injury concerns, Markkanen's name continues to float around in trade rumors as the NBA calendar creeps toward the trade deadline. But to his credit, he’s stayed locked in.
There’s been no sign that the outside noise is affecting his preparation or performance. That’s not easy to do, especially for a player who’s become the face of a franchise in transition.
For now, though, the trade speculation takes a backseat to the immediate question: Will Markkanen suit up tonight?
As of Thursday afternoon, we just don’t know. He's questionable, and that designation often comes down to how the player feels during pregame warmups. The Jazz are already managing a lengthy injury report - six players in total - so Markkanen’s status looms even larger.
The Lakers aren’t exactly at full strength either, listing five players on their own injury report. But Utah’s margin for error is slimmer without its star.
If Markkanen can go, expect him to make an impact. If not, it’ll be up to Utah’s supporting cast to step up against one of the league’s marquee teams.
We’ll know more closer to tip-off, but for now, all eyes in Salt Lake City are on No. 23 and that groin.