Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, who has been sidelined for the past seven games due to an illness, returned to practice on Monday and is expected to be available for Tuesday’s matchup against the Clippers, according to a tweet from Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune.
Markkanen is putting together the best statistical season of his career, averaging 27.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting .483 from the field, .365 from three-point range, and .884 at the free-throw line across 33 appearances (36.0 minutes per game).
Despite reported interest from several teams around the league, there is not an expectation that the Finnish standout will be moved before the trade deadline.
Utah has been far more competitive when Markkanen is on the floor, posting a 14-19 record with him available during the 2025/26 season, compared to just 1-12 in games he has missed.
Overall, the Jazz sit at 15-31, which ranks as the sixth-worst record in the NBA.
That positioning matters in the reverse standings, as Utah’s 2026 first-round pick would be owed to Oklahoma City if it falls outside the top eight.
Jazz's Lauri Markkanen Expected To Return Tuesday https://t.co/AUOcCRadnr pic.twitter.com/XFXcpOXLH0
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 26, 2026
