Lauri Markkanen Injury Update, Latest Rumors on Jazz Star's Status and Timeline to Return

The Utah Jazz will be without their star for at least a few weeks.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Lauri Markkanen underwent an MRI on Thursday that revealed symptomatic hip impingement with associated inflammation and bone bruise. He'll be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Markkanen suffered the injury, along with a twisted ankle, in Thursday's practice before a contest against the New Orleans Pelicans.

"They are still reviewing the MRIs," head coach Will Hardy said, per the Salt Lake Tribune's Kevin Reynolds. "It was an awkward landing going toward the basket. Tweaked his ankle and jammed his hip. So he was pulled from practice."

Amid the NBA's efforts to curb tanking, the league reportedly planned to evaluate the results of Markkanen's MRI. That comes after Utah was fined $500,000 earlier this month for "conduct detrimental to the league" after Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. sat out late in close games.

The loss of Markkanen is significant. The former All-Star is putting up 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, marking the best statistical season of his career so far.

The good news for the Jazz is that they likely aren't expecting — or trying for — a late-season turnaround. Utah is currently in 13th place in the West at 18-40 and is a far cry from being a playoff team.

Markkanen isn't the only Jazz star dealing with an injury. Keyonte George, who has been enjoying a breakout season this year, has been managing an ankle injury in recent weeks that has kept him sidelined for the majority of the last few weeks.

At this point in the season, Utah is likely more focused on improving its lottery odds ahead of a draft that will feature stars like Kansas' Darryn Peterson, BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Duke's Cam Boozer.