Utah Jazz forwards Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. both exited with injuries early in the first half of a 110-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, and both were ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Markkanen went to the locker room holding his right wrist with 5:58 left in the first quarter. He suffered the injury when his arm got sandwiched between Jackson and Cameron Boozer as he got tangled up with Boozer on the perimeter. Markkanen finished with two points in six minutes. He had averaged 20.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in Utah’s first three games.
Jackson left with 10:04 remaining in the second quarter after injuring his right knee. He finished with six points, three rebounds, and two assists in 10 minutes. He had averaged 19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in Utah’s first three games.
Both Players To Undergo MRI
Both players will have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the extent of their injuries. Utah coach Will Hardy had no immediate update on their status after the game.
“We’ll know more tomorrow once they get some imaging,” Hardy said.
Injury History Adds Concern
Markkanen has appeared in just 89 games over his previous two seasons with the Jazz. He has not played more than 66 games in a season since Utah acquired him in a trade before the 2022-23 season.
Jackson appeared in only three games with Utah last season after arriving in a trade with Memphis. He then underwent season-ending surgery on his left knee. In those three contests, he averaged 22.3 points and 4.3 rebounds.