November 12, 2026 at 5:52 AM UTC
NewsJazz Forward Lauri Markkanen Diagnosed With Two Nondisplaced Right Hand Fractures, Out at Least Four Weeks
Utah says Lauri Markkanen has two nondisplaced fractures in his right hand from the Nov. 6 loss to Dallas and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, another blow for a Jazz team that fell to 1-11 the same night.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has two nondisplaced fractures in his right hand and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced Wednesday from Salt Lake City. The injury happened in Utah's game against Dallas on Nov. 6. ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon reported, citing sources, that Markkanen will be sidelined for at least a month.
The news deepens a difficult start for the Jazz, whom ESPN described as devastated by early-season injuries. They were 1-10 when the diagnosis came out and fell to 1-11 that night with a 123-108 home loss to Orlando, their 10th straight defeat.
What the Jazz and ESPN have confirmed
The team's statement was brief. Markkanen sustained a right hand injury against Dallas, was evaluated, and was diagnosed with two nondisplaced fractures. The Jazz set a re-evaluation for four weeks and gave no other details.
ESPN added context about how the injury unfolded. According to its report, Markkanen was hit on the hand during Friday's loss to the Mavericks. He had already been playing with a sprained right wrist. An initial X-ray did not show a fracture, but scans after he returned to Utah revealed the cracks.
That sequence matters because the fractures were not identified right away. The Jazz have not said whether the earlier wrist sprain contributed to the injury.
What a four-week re-evaluation means
A re-evaluation date is not a return date. The team has said only that Markkanen's hand will be reassessed in four weeks. ESPN's reporting that he will miss at least a month is consistent with that timeline, and it leaves open a longer absence.
Counting from Wednesday's announcement, the check-in would come around the second week of December. That is analysis, not a team-provided date, and the Jazz have not said what they will look for or what would clear him to play. Because both fractures are described as nondisplaced, meaning the bone has not shifted out of position, they are generally less severe than displaced breaks. But the team has not discussed treatment, including whether surgery is under consideration, and no further timeline has been given.
Why it matters for Utah
ESPN refers to Markkanen as the Jazz's star, and he is the most prominent player on a team that has struggled from the start. Losing him for at least a month removes the roster's central figure during a stretch when Utah is already short-handed.
The Jazz's injury problems extend beyond Markkanen. NBC Sports' weekly injury report framed guard Keyonte George as the latest early-season injury for Utah, and ESPN counted rookie Darryn Peterson among the players who have been affected. Both were back for Wednesday's loss to Orlando, with Peterson scoring 22 and George 13, but Utah was still without Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic.
The record adds to the stakes. At 1-11, Utah has little margin, and a month without its top player means the schedule will continue while the team tries to make do with whoever is available. How the Jazz redistribute his responsibilities is an open question. The team has not announced lineup changes or said who will take on a larger role.
What to watch
The first question is whether the four-week estimate holds. Imaging and the healing process will determine whether Markkanen is cleared at the re-evaluation or the timeline stretches. Utah has said nothing about a target date, and the only firm commitment is the reassessment.
The second is how the injury fits into the larger picture for a team that has been hit repeatedly. The Jazz have not publicly connected the setbacks or described any change in approach to managing them. With their top player out and others dealing with injuries, the next several weeks will show how much Utah can accomplish without its most important piece, and how the team weighs the standings against the long-term health of its players.
For now, the confirmed facts are narrow: two nondisplaced fractures in the right hand, suffered Nov. 6 against Dallas, and a re-evaluation set for four weeks out. Everything beyond that, including his return date and the Jazz's plans without him, remains to be announced.