Utah Jazz DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) won't play against the Thunder on Wednesday. He will be back on the sidelines after returning from a six-game absence on Monday versus Minnesota. Markkanen was out with a quadriceps contusion and will miss Wednesday's clash for maintenance purposes. Brice Sensabaugh should move back into the first unit to cover for Markkanen, while his absence opens up extra shots for Collin Sexton and Keyonte George. However, putting together a big offensive performance will be difficult for the Jazz players on Wednesday, as they face an elite defensive team.

Utah Jazz forward/center John Collins avoided a concussion after getting injured on Monday versus Minnesota, but he has suffered a head contusion. Collins made an early exit from Monday's contest after getting hurt on a posterizing dunk by Anthony Edwards. The injury cut short an effective night at the office, as Collins posted 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting and had six rebounds in 20 minutes. Collins needs to shake off the injury by Wednesday if he doesn't want to miss any games. Walker Kessler would be in line for a start if Collins can't play. The 22-year-old has had a tough sophomore season but could really shine on Wednesday against an Oklahoma City team that struggles on the glass.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (quadriceps) will get back to work on Monday against the Timberwolves. After sitting out six games with a quadriceps contusion, the Finnish star is finally ready to return to the lineup, with the team upgrading Markkanen from questionable to available. Markkanen's return will affect the usage of Keyonte George and Collin Sexton, although Jordan Clarkson's (groin) absence will still give them extra fantasy value. From a minutes perspective, Brice Sensabaugh and Taylor Hendricks likely take a hit, with Markkanen grabbing back his starter's role.

Utah Jazz forward/center John Collins (rest) is set to return to the lineup on Monday versus Minnesota, as he isn't listed on the injury report. Utah rested its starting center on Saturday against the Timberwolves as the team completed a back-to-back set. Collins has performed well lately, recording eight of his 22 double-doubles this season since the start of February. He's averaging 17.8 points, 9.3 boards, and 2.0 blocks for the month. Collins faces a tough matchup on Monday, but Rudy Gobert (ribs) could again join Karl-Anthony Towns (knee) on the sidelines as he did at the weekend, which would give the Jazz man a chance to shine.

Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (groin) has been ruled out of a third consecutive game. He will miss the Monday contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves while he continues to deal with a right groin strain. Groin strains seem to be up there with the injuries that linger the most like hamstring issues. On top of that, the Jazz aren't competing for the playoffs, so they don't have a reason to rush Clarkson back to action. The youth movement has been going strong for the Jazz and they'll continue to get the bulk of the minutes while Clarkson is sidelined. Keyonte George, Kris Dunn, and Collin Sexton have all been solid streaming options in the meantime.