Trail Blazers News: Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen Added to Injury Report

Will the Utah All-Star forward suit up?

Oct 18, 2024; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) blocks a shot during the first half against Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) with help from center Donovan Clingan (23) at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

After not being listed in the afternoon's injury reports heading into Friday night's Utah Jazz tilt against the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen is a late scratch for this battle of rebuilding clubs, slated to tip off at 7 p.m. PT in the Moda Center. According to the NBA's latest injury report, Markkanen is managing a lower back ailment.

If one wanted to be cynical about this move, an observer could say that Jazz team president Danny Ainge, potentially concerned that his tanking team may accidentally beat another of the Western Conference's dregs in the Trail Blazers, who also have a slew of injuries. Normally, Utah doesn't need to sit its best player to lose. The team is generally so young and raw that it can lose to anyone not named the Washington Wizards. But a Jazz club missing four rotation players might be able to actually pull off a loss. As both clubs compete for lottery balls and the right to draft Duke phenom Cooper Flagg in next summer's 2025 NBA Draft, every win is perilous.

Read More: Multiple Stars Sidelined For Blazers vs Jazz Matchup

Or maybe Markkanen is just actually hurt. The 7-foot Arizona product is averaging his lowest scoring mark since being traded to Utah in 2022, a still-solid 19.2 points on .452/.385/.854 shooting splits, in 17 games for the 4-17 Jazz, the bottom seed in the Western Conference. He's also pulling down his lowest rebounding mark since the trade, 6.5 boards, plus 2.2 assists and 0.7 steals.

Key guard Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis) is out, as is Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture). Kyle Filipowski and Cody Williams, plus two-way players David Jones Garcia and Oscar Tshiebwe, are all on assignment with Utah's NBAGL franchise, the Salt Lake City Stars. Combo guard Collin Sexton, who had been a game-time decision with a left fourth finger dip avulsion fracture, has been upgraded to available.

The four aforementioned Portland rotation players who will miss Friday's contest are centers Donovan Clingan (left knee sprain) and Robert Williams III (concussion protocol), point guard Scoot Henderson (left quad contusion) and shooting guard/small forward Matisse Thybulle (right ankle sprain).

Per sportsbook aggregator The Action Network, the Trail Blazers are seen as four-point favorites to secure a win at home. If team general manager Joe Cronin was forced to take truth sure, he'd probably concede that he hopes Portland fails to do that.

More Trail Blazers: Portland Positioned to Secure Multiple Draft Picks in Potential Trade for Center