Lauri Markkanen suffered an injury during practice on Wednesday, according to Kevin Reynolds of The Salt Lake Tribune, and the Utah Jazz forward will have his right ankle and right hip evaluated.
Markkanen is expected to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue and whether he will need to miss time. It remains unclear whether imaging will focus on his ankle, his hip, or both as the team gathers more information.
The 28-year-old has played at a near-All-Star level when available this season, averaging 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 34.4 minutes per game across 42 starts.
However, injuries and minor health issues have limited his availability recently – after appearing in Utah’s first 22 games, he has played in only 20 of the past 36 contests, including a seven-game absence in January due to illness.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic already ruled out for the season and the Jazz focused on protecting their top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick, the team has little urgency to rush Markkanen back.
Even a minor injury could lead to missed time as Utah prioritizes long-term health.
Still, the NBA will likely monitor the situation closely after previously fining the franchise $500K for player participation decisions involving Markkanen and others.
Utah’s upcoming schedule includes two home games against New Orleans, followed by a matchup with Denver before a three-game road trip to Philadelphia, Washington, and Milwaukee.
Lauri Markkanen Injured In Practice, Will Undergo MRI https://t.co/9JrYYPlP6X pic.twitter.com/LyvsikzFef
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 25, 2026
