NBA: Lauri Markkanen listed as day-to-day with back issues

Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on before a game against the Golden State Warriors at Delta Center on October 25, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  –Alex Goodlett/Getty Images/AFP 

Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is day-to-day due to a lower back spasm that forced him to exit Utah’s 113-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA on Tuesday night.

Markkanen logged 17 minutes of action against Sacramento before missing the entire the second half. He finished with seven points, three rebounds and one assist.

READ: NBA: Lauri Markkanen a cornerstone of Jazz rebuild

Jazz coach Will Hardy told reporters after the game that Markkanen would get treatment on Wednesday. Utah is off until Thursday, when it faces the San Antonio Spurs in Salt Lake City. Hardy will wait until then to determine if Markkanen is good to play.

In four games (all starts) this season, Markkanen has averaged 18.0 points, 7.3 boards and 1.8 assists as one of the few bright spots for a Jazz team that is 0-4.

Markkanen, 27, was an All-Star during the 2022-23 campaign. –Field Level Media