The Utah Jazz were trying to earn their first win of the 2024-25 NBA season on Tuesday, but that taxing task became utterly implausible once they lost their best player. Lauri Markkanen exited the 113-96 home loss versus the Sacramento Kings and was ruled out with back spasms, per the team. He finished with seven points on 3-of-5 shooting.

This disconcerting news comes one night after 2023 top-10 draft pick Taylor Hendricks suffered devastating leg injuries. Fans' optimism is quickly dissipating.

Despite being mired in constant trade rumors, Utah continues to reaffirm its commitment to Markkanen. The All-Star forward agreed to a massive five-year $238 million contract extension in the offseason, validating the big leap he has made since landing on the Jazz ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. He is averaging 24.5 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 39.6 percent from 3-point range in 124 games with the franchise.

If one was to quickly do the math with the numbers provided, they would realize that health is an issue for Markkanen. The No. 7 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has yet to play 70 games in a single season, a complication that no team wants for its top guy. Utah's playoff prospects are slim even with Markkanen on the court, but it is near-impossible to imagine a surprise year if he misses extended time.

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Jazz are stumbling early in the season

Back spasms can be tricky to navigate, so Jazz fans will eagerly wait for an encouraging update from head coach Will Hardy. Unfortunately, the team did not give Salt Lake City much else to focus on, as Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento to a breezy victory. However, former Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson scored 21 points on 50 percent shooting, and rookies Kyle Filipowski (12 points, eight boards) and Brice Sensabaugh (three made 3-pointers) were solid in defeat.

The Jazz (0-4) will presumably place a decent amount of trust in John Collins if Lauri Markkanen is unable to play on Halloween night versus the San Antonio Spurs. Good fortune is not always associated with that specific holiday, but this squad may need to achieve success the unconventional way.