Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen to miss at least one month with hand injury
Nov 11, 2026, 11:48 AM
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 6: P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks and Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz fight for position during the second half at American Airlines Center during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on November 6, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY — The string of poor injury luck for the Utah Jazz continues this week as star forward Lauri Markkanen will miss at least one month with a right hand injury.
Against the Dallas Mavericks on November 6, Markkanen sustained two non-displaced fractures in his right hand.
The Jazz say he will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Markkanen sustained a right wrist sprain less than two weeks prior against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 26. He returned after missing just one game and played through some discomfort over the next four games.
The fractures are unrelated to the sprain, just on the same hand/wrist.
In eight games played this season, Markkanen averaged 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on 38.9/39.7/84.4 shooting splits.
This season, the Jazz are 0-3 in games without Markkanen. Over the last five seasons, the team is 27-94 overall with Markkanen out of the lineup.
I’m told that the Lauri Markkanen injury is unrelated to the wrist strain; it just happens to be in the same hand.
The fracture happened in the Dallas game, and he will be re-evaluated in four weeks.
#TakeNote | @kslsports
— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) November 11, 2026
Early Season Injury Pileup
The first bit of injury news for the Jazz came in preseason, when Jusuf Nurkic sustained a foot injury. The team’s starting center has yet to suit up this season.
Then, on October 26, both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Markkanen went down in the same game. It was a torn MCL for Jackson and a wrist sprain for Markkanen.
With the new fracture news, both Jackson and Markkanen will be out for the entirety of November and into December. Nurkic’s next re-evaluation date is around November 20.
Brutal luck for Markkanen and the Jazz with a second injury to the same wrist/hand.
Approximate re-evaluation dates for Utah’s injured starters:
Nurkic – Nov. 20
JJJ – Dec. 8
Lauri – Dec. 11— Chandler Holt (@CHoltSports) November 11, 2026
Keyonte George missed the Jazz’s last game with an ankle sprain, but he may end up being day-to-day. George was seen doing some light conditioning at shootaround on November 10 and also went through his warm-up routine before Utah’s game against Miami.
As Utah waits for the returns of Markkanen, Jackson, and Nurkic, the team will rely on its young core of George, Ace Bailey, and Darryn Peterson to keep the team afloat.
