Jazz can't catch a break as Utah loses Lauri Markkanen to injury

Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen expected to miss at least a month with fractured hand

The All-Star forward is the latest big man to be shelved due to injury, joining Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic.

The good news for the Jazz is that Markkanen isn't expected to need surgery, according to ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim McMahon.

But it's another serious blow to the Jazz's high preseason hopes.

Jazz could be without roughly 50 points, 20 rebounds a night over the next several games

Jackson Jr. is expected to be out until mid-December, per KSL.com, while Nurkic is making progress following a toe injury and should be back this month, per On SI's Jared Koch.

Utah needs to get healthy fast.

Ten of the Jazz's next 17 games are on the road, including a five-game road trip East leading up to Christmas.

Hard to believe after the preseason expectations, but the Jazz could be out of the playoff picture by New Year's Day 2027.