Not much has gone right for the Utah Jazz this season. Although they’ve already improved by one win over last year’s total of 17, they’re still a bottom-three team in the Western Conference. Now, one of their top players is nursing an injury.
Just over a week after being acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies via trade, PF/C Jaren Jackson Jr. finds himself on the shelf. It’s a serious blow to his eighth NBA campaign, as well as Utah’s chances to compete down the stretch.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the latest Jaren Jackson Jr. injury update, also weaving in how it could impact PrizePicks player projections for tonight’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers (9:00 p.m. ET).
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Jaren Jackson Jr. Injury Update, Timeline: How Long is JJJ Out?
Per a Thursday morning report from NBA on Prime insider Chris Haynes, a “localized PVNS growth” on Jackson's knee was discovered following the aforementioned trade. The former No. 4 overall pick is undergoing surgery, making him “likely” to be done for the year.
If true, Jackson’s first (partial) season as a member of the Jazz is over as quickly as it began. In three games with Utah, he’s averaged 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists on 49.0% shooting from the field and 33.3% from deep.
Prior to being traded, JJJ was enjoying a solid season in Memphis. Across 45 contests, he compiled a nightly stat line of 19.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 47.5% efficiency. The 2022-23 Defensive Player of the Year has a lengthy injury history, including ailments to his knee, foot, elbow, and ankle.
Jazz Players to Target With Jackson Out
In addition to Jackson being out long-term, Thursday’s Jazz game against the Trail Blazers sees other marquee names missing action. Per the official NBA injury report, G Keyonte George (ankle) and F Lauri Markkanen (rest) are inactive.
After a down year, Markkanen’s 26.7 PPG are a new personal best. He owns sparkling 48/36/89 shooting splits, serving as a model of efficiency on offense. George is also thriving, scoring 23.8 PPG with 6.5 nightly assists to boot. Their absences leave sizable voids to be filled.
With several players out of the picture, the Jazz still have some options to turn to. At the C-PF spot, Kyle Filipowski might be the one to benefit from increased reps.
The second-year man averages 22 minutes each night and is pouring in 9.6 PPG on 48.2% shooting from the field. His role and production are remarkably similar year-over-year, but now there are fewer mouths to feed.
According to databallr, in 408 minutes without Markkanen this year, “Flip” experiences a 3.4% increase in usage rate (16.2% to 19.6%). In a 506-minute sample without George, he logged 1.1 more rebounds and 1.9 more free throw attempts per 75 possessions.
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Kyle Filipowski vs. Trail Blazers Projections, Picks
Here are some of the top Kyle Filipowski projections vs. the Trail Blazers tonight, courtesy of PrizePicks.
- 15.5 Points
- 9 Rebounds
- 24.5 Pts + Rebs
- 27.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- 5.5 FG Made
- And More
Make NBA Picks on PrizePicks
Jaren Jackson Jr. may be tracking to be done for the year, but there remain plenty of predictions and picks for Utah Jazz games and countless other NBA events.
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