Jazz Forward Lauri Markkanen Leaves Kings Game With Injury
Oct 29, 2024, 8:27 PM | Updated: 8:28 pm

Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on before a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Delta Center on February 25, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen left the team’s game against the Sacramento Kings with a back injury at halftime and didn’t return to the floor.
Markkanen was ruled out for the remainder of the game with a lower back spasm.
Rookie Kyle Filipowski started the second half in the All-Star’s place.
Markkanen had seven points and three rebounds in 18 first-half minutes.
Related: Kyle Filipowski Scores First NBA Points
🚨 FLIP’S FIRST NBA BUCKET 🚨#TakeNote | @kylefilipowski pic.twitter.com/nFTbfooz2y
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 30, 2024
Markkanen Leaves Kings Game With Back Injury
Jazz coach Will Hardy already had to make a change to his starting lineup just four games into the season after the team lost forward Taylor Hendricks to a gruesome leg injury.
Midway through the Jazz’s loss in Dallas, Hendricks appeared to slip while running back on offense and fell awkwardly on his right leg.
Related: Jazz Lose Hendricks After Severe Leg Injury
Rookie Cody Williams and veteran Jordan Clarkson were inserted into the lineup in place of Hendricks and Collin Sexton.
screaming, crying, Cody’s first NBA start 🥹🫶#StartingLineup presented by @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/hT2QrX0Ipt
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) October 30, 2024
With Hendricks missing from the roster, Filipowski was inserted into the team’s rotation.
The Jazz selected Filipowski with the 32nd pick in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Markkanen had gotten off to a slow start do the 2024-25 campaign.
The 27-year-old was averaging 21.7 points and 8.7 rebounds in his first three appearances but was shooting just 36 percent from the floor.
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Ben Anderson is the Utah Jazz insider for KSL Sports and the co-host of Jake and Ben from 10-12p with Jake Scott on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone. Find Ben on Twitter at @BensHoops or on Instagram @BensHoops.