Lauri Markkanen Heads to Locker Room with Hand Injury as Jazz Medical Bill Grows

If you had Lauri Markkanen finishing a basketball game on your Monday bingo card, it is officially time to throw the whole card in the trash.

According to Underdog NBA, the Utah Jazz forward was forced to the locker room with a hand injury, adding another frustrating chapter to a season that is quickly turning into a premium cable medical drama.

"Status alert: Lauri Markkanen (hand) headed to locker room Monday. - @UnderdogNBA"

The Jazz cornerstone is pulling down a cool $46.1 million this season. For context, that means Utah is paying him roughly the GDP of a small island nation to cycle through back spasms, eye contusions, leg issues, and now a busted hand.

Before this latest trip to the trainer's room, Markkanen was averaging 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds. He is shooting an absurd 41.9 percent from deep but a baffling 39.8 percent from the floor overall, which means he is somehow significantly worse at shooting when he steps closer to the basket.

Anyone holding a Markkanen over on points or rebounds is currently staring at their phone in disbelief. Live betting markets have already slammed the door shut, and fantasy managers are once again scouring the waiver wire for a guy who might actually play four quarters of professional basketball.

The Jazz are already navigating life without starting center Walker Kessler, who has been dealing with a lingering hip injury. John Collins is out there fighting for his life in the frontcourt while the rest of the roster looks like a triage unit.

We are now waiting on the inevitable post-game X-ray update to see if this is a minor tweak or a long-term problem. Until then, Utah fans just have to sit back and hope their most expensive asset can eventually find his way back to the court.