The Utah Jazz’s injury-plagued season continued to unravel this week, with multiple starters ruled out and another All-Star awaiting medical results as the team sits near the bottom of the NBA standings.
All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen underwent an MRI, and according to reports, the MRI revealed symptomatic hip impingement with associated inflammation and bone bruise. He will be reevaluated in two weeks. Markkanen is averaging a career-high 26.7 points per game this season.
Earlier this month, the league fined the Jazz $500,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league” after the team sat healthy stars Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarter of two February games.
Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić have already been shut down for the season due to surgeries. Jackson underwent a procedure to remove a growth in his left knee, the team announced Thursday. The two-time All-Star, acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade at the deadline, will miss the remainder of the season. Nurkić will also miss the rest of the year after undergoing nose surgery.
The Jazz also lost Vince Williams Jr., another player acquired from Memphis in the Jackson trade, to a torn ACL. An MRI confirmed the injury. Williams appeared in just six games for Utah, averaging 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Center Walker Kessler previously underwent season-ending surgery in November for a torn labrum.
Utah enters the week with an 18-40 record, currently holding the sixth-worst mark in the NBA, behind the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans.
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