🏀 Lauri Markkanen Injury Update: When Will He Be Back and Return to Jazz?

Lauri Markkanen is currently dealing with symptomatic hip impingement with associated inflammation and bone bruise. The Jazz forward has already missed five games due to the injury. Below, we will look at when Markkanen will be back and return to the Utah lineup. We will also look at Markkanen’s fantasy basketball stock, and Jazz betting odds.

🩹 When will Lauri Markkanen return and be back with Jazz?

Markkanen will likely be re-evaluated on Thursday, March 12. Recovery time for this sort of injury is tough to project. It is not anticipated that Markkanen will need surgery for the hip issue. Nonsurgical treatment for this injury is simply rest and use of anti-inflammatory medications. So, theoretically Markkanen could be back immediately after the re-evaluation. The first game we could potentially see Markkanen return in is a Friday, March 13 game at the Trail Blazers.

The pressure is on the Jazz franchise for Markkanen to return this season. Utah was fined $500,000 on Feb. 12 for resting players that the NBA regarded as healthy enough to play. One of those players was Markkanen, who the Jazz sat for the fourth quarters of a Feb. 7 loss to the Magic and a Feb. 9 win over the Heat. The Jazz were miffed over the fine.

“I sat Lauri because he was on a minutes restriction,” Jazz head coach Will Hardy said. “So if our medical team puts a minutes restriction on Lauri, I’ll try to keep Lauri healthy.”

Jazz owner Ryan Smith also weighed in on the issue at the time, saying, “Agree to disagree… Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined? That makes sense …”

So this current Markkanen injury will be one to closely monitor. The NBA will be keeping a close eye on Markkanen’s recovery, so his return this season is definitely in play. Here is a look at Utah’s schedule around the time Markkanen could potentially return.

• Friday, March 13: Utah Jazz at Portland Trail Blazers
• Sunday, March 15: Utah Jazz at Sacramento Kings
• Wednesday, March 18: Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves
• Thursday, March 19: Milwaukee Bucks at Utah Jazz
• Saturday, March 21: Philadelphia 76ers at Utah Jazz

🏀 Lauri Markkanen fantasy basketball stock

Markkanen was going in the fourth or fifth round of most fantasy basketball drafts this past fall. He is currently owned in 95 percent of Yahoo! fantasy basketball leagues.

The 28-year-old had been enjoying the best scoring season of his career before this most recent setback. Markkanen is averaging 26.7 points per game. His previous career-high for a season came in 2022-23 when he averaged 25.6 points per game.

🎶 Utah Jazz betting odds

NBA Finals odds have the Jazz at a whopping +500000 price due to their ugly 19-44 record. At this point in the season, Jazz fans might be turning their attention to NBA Draft odds. Utah will surely be in the mix for one of the top overall draft picks. The best NBA betting sites currently have Darryn Peterson at +100 to be picked first overall.