Markkanen Sidelined With Hand Fracture
The Utah Jazz forward will miss at least one month after a non-displaced fracture in his right hand.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Basketball
Lauri Markkanen sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand, the same wrist he has been dealing with for a couple of weeks. He will be sidelined for at least one month, extending a stretch that has already cost him several games.
Why it matters
The Utah Jazz are 1-10 through their first 11 games and rank among the league's bottom five in both offensive and defensive rating, so the loss of their leading scorer deepens a difficult start. Markkanen has averaged 18.0 points per game, making his absence a significant blow to the team's offense.
Utah is 1-10 through 11 games, and Markkanen has averaged 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists while shooting 38.9% from the field and 39.7% from three in eight games. His recovery timeline has not been finalized beyond a minimum of one month.
The players
Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen is a Finnish forward for the Utah Jazz, known for his perimeter shooting and scoring versatility.
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz are an NBA franchise based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Shams Charania
Shams Charania is an NBA insider for ESPN who reports on player injuries and team transactions.
The details
Markkanen first suffered a wrist strain on October 26, in the same game Jaren Jackson Jr. suffered an MCL injury. After missing one game and returning for four more appearances, he was sidelined for Utah's last two meetings against the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Miami Heat before the hand fracture was identified in an update reported by ESPN's Shams Charania.
Timeline
October 26, 2026: Markkanen suffered a wrist strain in the same game Jaren Jackson Jr. suffered an MCL injury.
November 11, 2026: An update reported the non-displaced hand fracture.
Early-to-mid December 2026: Markkanen's projected return after a month-long recovery.
Season Trajectory
Utah's 1-10 start has placed the team among the league's bottom five in both offensive and defensive rating, and Markkanen's injury removes its most productive scorer during a stretch when the team needs consistent production. The Jazz must now navigate the next month without him while also managing the absence of Keyonte George, who suffered an ankle sprain over the weekend.
Markkanen's absence removes a primary scoring option from the Utah Jazz lineup, which will shift offensive responsibility to the remaining healthy rotation players. Fantasy managers rostering him will need to account for at least a month of lost production.
The takeaway
Injuries can quickly reshape a season for a team already struggling, and a month-long absence for a key scorer leaves little margin for error. Following official team updates is the most reliable way to track when Markkanen returns to the lineup.
What happens next
Markkanen is projected to return in early-to-mid December after a month-long recovery, which would mean missing at least a dozen regular season games.
Further reading
For more on the team's early-season results, see our Basketball coverage.
