Markkanen (hand) is available for Monday's contest against the Suns.
After missing each of the Jazz's previous two games, Markkanen is officially available for Utah on Monday. The Arizona product has recorded at least 25 points in five out of his last six appearances, averaging 30.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists across 35.7 minutes per game over that stretch.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Will be a game-time call
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Markkanen (hand) is a game-time call against the Suns on Monday according toEric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune.
Markkanen was spotted getting some shots up at the morning shootaround which is a good sign. Markkanen playing would be a relief for the Jazz, especially since Simone Fontecchio has been ruled out with a toe issue.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Questionable Monday
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Markkanen (hand) is questionable for Monday's game against the Suns, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Markkanen has missed the last two games due to a hand injury, but it's possible he'll be able to return to the court for Monday's matchup. If he remains out, Simone Fontecchio and Talen Horton-Tucker should continue to see increased run.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Still out Saturday
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Markkanen (hand) will not play in Saturday's game against the Kings, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Markkanen sat out the opening leg of the back-to-back set Friday nursing a bruised left hand he sustained in Wednesday's game. Although there was optimism he may return for the tail end of the two-game series, he will end up watching Saturday's game from the sidelines. Talen Horton Tucker, Ochai Agbaji and Simone Fontecchio are likely candidates to see increased roles. Markkanen's next chance to play will come Monday against the Suns.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Ruled out Friday
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Markkanen (hand) has been ruled out for Friday's game against Milwaukee.
Markkanen suffered a left hand contusion in the third quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Trail Blazers, but he remained in the game and underwent X-rays afterward that came back clean. He had a strong showing with 40 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes but will be forced to miss at least one game due to his injury. Ochai Agbaji, Simone Fontecchio and Talen Horton-Tucker are candidates to see increased run against the Bucks, while it's not yet clear whether Markkanen will be able to return Saturday against the Kings.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: May be nursing hand injury
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Markkanen suffered an apparent left hand injury in the third quarter of Wednesday's 127-115 loss to the Trail Blazers, but he was able to remain in the game and said afterward that X-rays administered on his hand returned clean, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
The Finnish big man sustained the injury when he was hit on the hand by the Trail Blazers' Trendon Watford with 3:06 remaining in the quarter. Markkanen stayed on the court for a few moments and was flexing his hand, but he proceeded to make both of his free-throw attempts before checking out of the contest 30 seconds later. He then returned to the contest to play six minutes in the fourth quarter, finishing the night with 40 points (14-23 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 8-9 FT), 12 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes. Markkanen, who had missed the Jazz's previous game with a tight back, said that he'll wait and see how he feels Thursday before speculating on his availability for Friday's game against the Bucks, so fantasy managers will want to keep tabs on Utah's injury report over the next 24 hours.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Explodes for 40 points
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Markkanen posted 40 points (14-23 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 8-9 FT), 12 rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes during Wednesday's 127-115 loss to Portland.
Though his back injury kept him out of Monday's game, Markkanen showed no ill effects during his 33 minutes of court time. The 40-point output marked Markkanen's third-best scoring total of the season. Despite recently missing time with injuries, Markkanen is enjoying an excellent March, averaging 29.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.3 treys and 2.3 assists over seven games.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Will play Wednesday
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Markkanen (back) will play Wednesday against Portland, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Markkanen has been upgraded from questionable to available and will suit up following a one-game absence due to a back issue. Since the All-Star break, Markkanen has appeared in nine of Utah's 11 matchups, averaging 29.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 35.3 minutes during that stretch.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Questionable Wednesday
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Markkanen (back) is questionable for Wednesday's game against Portland, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Markkanen sat out Monday's game after his back flared up on him, but he got through a full practice Tuesday, so he's trending in the right direction. If he can return for Wednesday's game, Simone Fontecchio would likely return to the second unit and Ochai Agbaji's usage would dip a bit.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Practices in full Tuesday
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Markkanen (back) participated fully in Tuesday's practice, Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
After sitting out Monday, Markkanen's full participation in practice Tuesday suggests he's on track to make his return to the floor after just one game on the sidelines. Markkanen continues to impress and has turned up the heat in the scoring column recently, generating at least 28 points in four of his last five games.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Ruled out Monday
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Markkanen (back) has been ruled out for Monday's game against the Kings, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
The Jazz play three more times this week after Monday's contest, so Markkanen's fantasy managers will hope for a quick recovery. With Markkanen out, Simone Fontecchio and Rudy Gay could step up for the Jazz. His absence also opens increased work for Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji and Talen Horton-Tucker.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Questionable Monday
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Markkanen (back) is questionable for Monday's game against the Kings, Utah beat writer Ryan Miller reports.
Markkanen missed a game on March 5 with the back issue, and while he played in the next five games, it appears it's still giving him some trouble. He'll test how he's feeling at Monday's shootaround, but if he's not able to give it a go, that would open up minutes for Simone Fontecchio and Rudy Gay. Ochai Agbaji and Talen Horton-Tucker would also stand to see a bump in usage sans Markkanen.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Scores team-high 28 points
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Markkanen logged 28 points (10-23 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 10 rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes during Saturday's 118-117 victory over the Celtics.
Markkanen played a key role in overcoming a 19-point deficit in the second half. The Arizona product has almost single-handedly propelled the Jazz into playoff contention, and his recent five-game run has been superb, save a poor shooting performance against the Hornets a week ago. Despite that subpar performance, Markkanen averaged 28.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists over his last five games.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Erupts for 38 in Miami
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Markkanen logged 38 points (14-26 FG, 6-12 3Pt, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds, three steals, one assist and one block in 37 minutes during Monday's 119-115 loss to the Heat.
The 25-year-old didn't get a lot of help in the road loss, as only two other Jazz players even scored in double digits. Markkanen has popped for more than 30 points in three of the last four games, and since the All-Star break, he's taken his breakout campaign to another level, averaging 29.1 points, 8.3 boards, 3.1 threes and 1.9 assists over eight contests.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Game-high 31 points
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Markkanen provided 31 points (11-22 FG, 3-9 3Pt, 6-6 FT), five rebounds, two assists and one block in 34 minutes during Thursday's 131-124 win over the Magic.
Markkanen finished with at least 30 points, five rebounds, two assists and one block for a second consecutive contest. The breakout forward has appeared in six of Utah's seven games since the All-Star break and is averaging 30.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists with 51/36/83 shooting splits during that stretch.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Turns in stellar night from downtown
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Markkanen closed Tuesday's 120-116 loss to the Mavericks with 33 points (12-20 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 4-7 FT), six rebounds, two steals, two assists and one block in 39 minutes.
Markkanen scored 15 of his 33 points from beyond the arc after failing to connect on five tries from deep in his last outing in Friday's 130-103 loss to the Thunder. He hasn't been shy on the offensive end of late, hoisting up 20 or more attempts from the field in six of his last eight matchups.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Will play Tuesday
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Markkanen (back) will play Tuesday versus the Mavericks.
A lower back issue forced Markkanen to watch Sunday's game from the sidelines, but he'll be back in action Tuesday night after just a one-game absence, so he should see his usual minutes. His return will likely result in Jordan Clarkson heading back to the second unit, and Kelly Olynyk's minutes will likely return to the mid-20s.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Out Sunday
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Markkanen is out Sunday against the Thunder due to low back soreness, Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Markkanen will miss just his second game since Jan. 18, and he's averaged 26.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists during this stretch. With Collin Sexton (hamstring) still out, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker and Kelly Olynyk should take on increased offensive workloads. Simone Fontecchio could see increased minutes off the bench.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Another double-double
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Markkanen supplied 20 points (6-14 FG, 0-5 3Pt, 8-11 FT), 10 rebounds, two assists and one block over 30 minutes during Friday's 130-103 loss to the Thunder.
Markkanen recorded a double-double for the fourth time over his last five appearances and reached the 20-point mark for the eighth straight contest. The former Bulls and Cavaliers forward continues to have a career-best season and has averaged 26.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game since the start of February.
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Jazz's Lauri Markkanen: Drops 14 points in fourth quarter
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Markkanen accumulated 27 points (9-17 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 6-6 FT), four rebounds and two assists over 32 minutes during Saturday's 118-102 victory over the Spurs.
Markkanen got off to a bit of a slow start with seven points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field in the first half, adding just one assist. He picked up the tempo after the break and was particularly excellent in the fourth quarter, knocking down five of six field-goal attempts for 14 points as the Jazz ran away with the win. The power forward finished with a game-high 27 points and has scored at least 27 in four straight. Markkanen has also gone a perfect 23-of-23 from the free-throw line over his last three contests.
