First-quarter exit leaves Jazz star Lauri Markkanen with apparent hand injury against Grizzlies

Markkanen exits in first quarter

Markkanen appeared to hurt his wrist early in the game against Memphis. After getting tangled up with rookie Cameron Boozer, he headed to the locker room as Filipowski came into the lineup.

The Jazz had not provided details about the injury or said whether Markkanen would be sidelined for an extended period. It was also unclear whether he would return before the game ended.

Utah faces frontcourt concerns

If Markkanen is unavailable, the Jazz would lose another frontcourt option and a source of offensive versatility. The team would need its limited depth in that area to cover his minutes.

Markkanen’s early-season production

Across the first three games he played this season, Markkanen averaged 19.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He shot 41.3% from the field and 37.0% from three-point range.

Those contributions make a potential absence significant for Utah, even with other scoring options on the roster. The Jazz’s plans depend in part on how long Markkanen is out, if he misses time at all.

Filipowski and George could step up

Filipowski could see more playing time if Markkanen cannot play. He had been limited during the season’s first few games while returning from offseason back surgery. Keyonte George could also take on more scoring responsibility. He was averaging more than 21 points through three games, shooting 57.1% from the field and 47.4% from three.