Jazz-Trail Blazers Injury Report: Keyonte George Among 8 Inactives
So far into the 2023-24 NBA season, the Utah Jazz have yet to shake the injury bug off. The troubles first began during their first game of the season against the Sacramento Kings when second-year Walker Kessler suffered a lingering elbow sprain, and things have only snowballed from there.
Fast forward to Thursday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, the inactive count for the Jazz has risen to a staggering eight players. With a combination of injury, illness, and G-League assignments, it’s another matchup in which Utah will be short-handed.
Utah Jazz:
Jordan Clarkson- OUT (right hamstring strain)
John Collins- OUT (illness)
Keyonte George- OUT (left foot soreness)
Lauri Markkanen- OUT (injury management)
Luka Samanic- OUT (illness)
Brice Sensabaugh- OUT (G League)
Johnny Juzang- OUT (G League)
Josh Christopher- OUT (G League)
Portland Trail Blazers:
Malcolm Brogdon: QUESTIONABLE (knee)
Jerami Grant: OUT (concussion)
Deandre Ayton: QUESTIONABLE (knee)
Ish Wainright- OUT (G League)
Robert Williams- OUT (knee surgery)
For the Jazz, Keyonte George will miss his first game of the season during the road trip after the non-contact injury he suffered against the New York Knicks a night prior. Luckily, it doesn’t seem to be anything incredibly serious, with the designation described as foot soreness instead of anything more major.
As for their All-Star Lauri Markkanen, he won’t appear in this back-to-back after returning to the floor for the first time in eight games on Wednesday night. This season, it seems Will Hardy has consistently taken the safer approach to bringing his guys back from injury, and that trend looks to continue in this one.
Jordan Clarkson and John Collins will also continue their absences from the last game. Jordan will continue his two-week rehab window for his hamstring injury, while John is dealing with a lingering illness, along with Luka Samanic seemingly suffering the same fate.
The Trail Blazers are also a bit banged up themselves. Starting forward Jerami Grant has been forced out of this game with a concussion, along with Deandre Ayton and Malcolm Brogdon’s statuses in question. With some of their most impactful veterans out of the lineup, it could lead to more substantial opportunities for the younger guys in Portland.
The Jazz will face the Trail Blazers for the fourth time this season on Thursday, with tip-off set for 8 PM MT.
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