The Utah Jazz’s season-opening struggles deepened on Tuesday night as their star forward Lauri Markkanen was forced out of a 113-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings with a lower back injury. The 27-year-old All-Star logged just 17 minutes before back spasms sidelined him for the entire second half.
“His back pretty much locked up,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy revealed after the game. “He got treatment throughout halftime, and with about a minute left on the clock, was still on the table, not really able to move. So it was my decision, and our medical team’s decision, to hold him out.”
Hardy said Markkanen would receive treatment on Wednesday and be evaluated prior to the Jazz’s next game against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. The first-year head coach will wait until then to determine if his leading scorer is able to suit up.
Winless Jazz Struggling Out of the Gate
Markkanen’s injury is the latest setback for a Utah team that has stumbled to an 0-4 start, with their last two home losses coming by a combined 58 points. The Finnish forward has been one of the few bright spots, averaging 18.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists through the first four games.
The sharpshooting 7-footer was coming off a breakout 2022-23 campaign in which he earned his first NBA All-Star selection. He set career highs in points (25.6) and rebounds (8.6) per game while shooting 49.5% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range.
Markkanen had gotten off to a slower start this season, shooting just 41.1% overall and 21.7% from deep. But his ability to space the floor and create mismatches is essential to Utah’s offense. Without their go-to scorer, the Jazz’s uphill climb to competitiveness in the Western Conference becomes even steeper.
Injury Woes Compounding Jazz’s Rebuild
Markkanen isn’t the only Jazz player dealing with early-season injury issues. Veteran guard Mike Conley has missed two games with knee soreness, while newly acquired wing Rudy Gay is on a minutes restriction as he regains conditioning after missing most of training camp.
With a roster featuring 10 new players and a first-time head coach, the Jazz knew they were in for some growing pains. But this rash of injuries has thrown the team’s development for a loop. After trading away franchise cornerstones Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the offseason, Utah is clearly in rebuild mode. But they would like to see their young core get some continuity and build chemistry on the court.
“It’s only four games into the season, but we feel like we’re already behind where we need to be,” a Jazz team source told ESPN. “Losing key guys to injury makes it really tough to figure out lineups and rotations and get any rhythm going.”
Promising Start Turns Painful for Markkanen
For Markkanen, the back injury interrupts what had the makings of another strong individual season. The skilled stretch four looked poised to establish himself as the face of Utah’s retooled roster after coming over from the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Mitchell blockbuster.
Though his efficiency dipped in the small early sample, Markkanen still showed flashes of the inside-outside game that has made him such a uniquely dangerous offensive weapon. At 7-feet tall, he can post up smaller defenders and screen and roll to the rim. But he’s also a knockdown shooter when spotting up beyond the arc. Few players his size have such a diversified skill set.
The hope is that this back issue is just a short-term speed bump and not something that lingers throughout the season. Back problems can be tricky, especially for taller players who put immense strain on their spine. The Jazz’s training staff will surely be cautious with their young star.
In the meantime, more offensive burden will fall on the shoulders of guards Collin Sexton, Jordan Clarkson and Malik Beasley, as well as rookie wing Ochai Agbaji. But there’s no replacing Markkanen’s unique combination of size and shooting. Until he’s back to full strength, the Jazz’s rebuild remains stuck in the mud.
