If there's one word that's been brought up ad nauseam with the Utah Jazz, it's been "hurt." The Jazz have been snakebitten with injuries. Taylor Hendricks was bad enough knowing what the Jazz hoped to see from him, but it feels like it keeps getting worse.
After Keyonte George missed their last game against the Spurs, Walker Kessler has been added to the injury report due to hip soreness. He's been listed out. The one saving grace—George will play tonight against the Suns pending any surprises.
Jazz Injury Report:
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) November 12, 2024
*OUT - Walker Kessler (right hip soreness)
*PROBABLE - Keyonte George (left hind foot sprain)
OUT - Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture)
OUT - Micah Potter (G League)
OUT - Jason Preston (G League)
OUT - Oscar Tshiebwe (G League)
The Jazz are playing one of the best teams in the league record-wise, though Kevin Durant's latest hamstring injury will certainly be a setback for them. It's been brought up before that while this isn't the worst thing in the world since the Jazz are going for the tank. It is annoying that they don't seem to ever be at full strength.
Without repeating the same points, there is one upside to their latest injury report. Operative word being one.
Lauri Markkanen's back issues have not resurfaced
Markkanen missed a few games because of back spasms. There was a little scare against the Spurs when he got fouled on a play and landed on his hip, which could have re-aggravated what had been bothering him for a while.
Markkanen was definitely feeling some hip/glute pain after the game, after taking this fall in the fourth quarter.
— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) November 10, 2024
He was getting some treatment in the locker room and will surely be feeling it even more tomorrow. Good thing the Jazz have two days between now and next game. pic.twitter.com/IRDTU0UiID
Since it appears they have not come back, at least the Jazz can take some solace in that Markkanen's injury issues won't be a thing for the time being. It's just a shame that Kessler won't play, which prevents the Jazz starters from developing its continuity with one another.
The best case scenario for the Jazz is losing games, but at the same time, they could make games competitive like they did on opening night. What's been annoying is that their starters haven't gotten to play together as a group much.
Not having Hendricks sealed their fate on that front to a certain extent, but at least they could have gotten more familiarized with how to bring more out of each other. Now they have won two of their last three games, which hopefully isn't a sign that they are following the same blueprint as last season, but it's inconvenient that they can't see what could and could not work for them long-term.
It's a minor inconvenience, but those are annoying no matter what. Luckily, there have been no indications that these injuries will be a long-term problem. The real sad part is, if and when the Jazz decide to waive the white flag on the season in 2025, expect more players to show up on the injury report.