Jazz Frontcourt Can't Catch a Break
· Yahoo Sports
Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. both went down with injuries during the Utah Jazz's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. Both exited the game early, with Markkanen playing six minutes and Jackson playing nine minutes.
Markkanen left the game halfway through the first quarter with a right wrist injury when his arm got caught between Jackson and Memphis forward Cameron Boozer. Jackson left early in the second quarter with a right leg injury when Memphis guard Ty Jerome drove into him.
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There is no timetable for how long they will be out. Both are getting MRI scans on Tuesday.
Coach Will Hardy started Markkanen and Jackson in the frontcourt. Jaxson Hayes missed the game due to right shoulder soreness. Hayes's injury is not alarming for Utah, and he can come back as quickly as Wednesday, when the Jazz take on the San Antonio Spurs.
When Markkanen and Jackson were out for the second half, Hardy played Mo Bamba, Kyle Filipowski and Tony Bradley.
Bamba played the most meaningful minutes, playing 28 of them and recording 14 points and seven rebounds. He also added four blocks.
Markkanen is listed as day-to-day. Jackson could be missing significant time. Medical analysts project a best-case scenario of two to six weeks if it is a Grade 1 or 2 MCL sprain, and a worst-case scenario of nine to 12 months if there is a severe tear in his MCL or ACL that would require surgery.
It's unfortunate for Jackson. After he was traded to Utah from Memphis in February 2026, he appeared in only three games before undergoing left-knee surgery that ended his season. Fans were excited to see him healthy and ready to return this season.
Utah will more than likely take its time bringing Markkanen back, especially with the anticipation that Jackson will be sidelined for a substantial period. Filipowski is coming off an offseason of injuries and is yet to find a groove.
He has played eight minutes per game through the first four games of the season.
Hayes is expected to be back. Hayes and Bamba are expected to do most of the heavy lifting in the frontcourt spots, with Filipowski and Bradley acting as support roles off the bench.
Utah faces Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in two of the next three games. Look for Hardy to pull out all the stops on defense to slow down the superstar.