New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray suffered a fractured left hand during the team’s recent victory over the Chicago Bulls. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter when Murray attempted a 3-pointer and took a hard fall after being contested by Zach LaVine. This marks Murray’s first game with the Pelicans, and he will be out indefinitely as a result of the injury.
Additionally, Trey Murphy III, who had been dealing with a strained right hamstring since October 2, has progressed in his recovery and has started the “return-to-play conditioning phase” of his rehabilitation. The team will provide another update on his status in approximately two weeks. Murphy recently signed a four-year, $112 million contract extension just before the deadline on Monday.
The Pelicans faced significant challenges in their recent game with both Murray and Zion Williamson out of commission. Despite these absences, the team managed to secure a victory over the Bulls with a strong performance from Murray, who contributed 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds.
Murray was acquired by the Pelicans in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks during the offseason, which resulted in the departure of key players such as Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels, Jonas Valanciunas, and Naji Marshall. The team opted for a more top-heavy roster this season, sacrificing depth for star power. While this strategy can be effective if key players remain healthy, the Pelicans are already facing challenges in this area early in the season.
Despite Murray’s injury, the Pelicans still have talented playmakers in Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, who stepped up in the last game with impressive scoring performances. Both players will have the opportunity to take on a larger role in initiating the offense in Murray’s absence. Backup point guard Jose Alvarado, who saw limited minutes in the previous game, is also capable of handling an increased workload.
Murray’s absence may simplify things for the Pelicans in the short term by allowing other players to take on more responsibility. However, it also presents a setback in terms of developing chemistry and cohesion among the team’s key pieces. As the Pelicans navigate through this challenging period, the focus will be on maximizing the potential of their roster and working towards a successful season.
