Jazz-Grizzlies Injury Report: Clarkson & Markkanen Update

The Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies will be shorthanded when they face off on Wednesday night.

The Utah Jazz play the Memphis Grizzlies for the third time this season on Wednesday night at the FedExForum. Both teams will be without some key pieces heading into the contest. 

Memphis will be without starting point guard Marcus Smart (foot), Jake LaRavia, Luke Kennard (knee), and GG Jackson. As for the Jazz, Lauri Markkanen (hamstring) and Kris Dunn (personal) are out, while Jordan Clarkson (thigh) and Kelly Olynyk (shoulder) are questionable. 

Injury update on Lauri Markkanen:

Lauri (left hamstring strain) experienced hamstring soreness following practice on Friday, 11/24. He was reevaluated and diagnosed with a left hamstring strain on Sunday. He will not travel with the team for the next two games to focus on rehab… pic.twitter.com/O7MWMwsKC8

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 28, 2023

The Jazz have been bitten early and often with the injury bug this year. Markannen currently isn’t traveling with the team. The earliest Utah’s leading scorer could come back would be December 2 versus the Portland Trail Blazers.

Utah has beaten the Grizzlies twice this year and will be looking for the hat trick on Wednesday night. The Jazz are also 2-0 since head coach Will Hardy shook up the starting lineup.

Something to keep an eye on will be whether Walker Kessler will find his way back to the starting lineup. The second-year Jazzman has performed well in a reserve role since coming back from an elbow injury.

When Kessler was starting, Hardy would sub in for Kessler at the seven-minute mark of the first quarter. Hardy is still figuring out his rotation and might stick with what’s been working. 

The oddsmakers have Memphis pegged as a 4.5-point favorite heading into the contest. The tip-off is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. MST.

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