New guard Dejounte Murray may have suffered a fractured left hand during the Pelicans’ opening night victory over the Bulls, per NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN.
Murray, who posted a near triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, exited the game in clear discomfort. His status moving forward is now uncertain as the team awaits further evaluation.
The Pelicans acquired Murray in a blockbuster trade with the Hawks this offseason, aiming to bolster their backcourt and make a serious push in the Western Conference.
His dynamic playmaking and defensive intensity were expected to pair well with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, giving the Pelicans a formidable core. However, Murray’s potential absence looms large, especially with Williamson already sidelined due to illness.
New Orleans, as they’ve shown in recent years, has struggled with injuries to key players, and the start of this season is beginning to follow that familiar pattern. Losing Murray for any extended period would leave a significant void in the backcourt, placing extra pressure on CJ McCollum and Ingram to carry the load.
For now, the Pelicans have to hope this is just a minor setback for their newest star. If the injury is indeed a fracture, it could derail some of the momentum they were hoping to build early on, especially in a competitive West that doesn’t leave much room for error.
One of the top two-way players in the NBA, Murray averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Hawks last season, shooting 45.9% from the field, 36.3% on 3-pointers and 79.4% from the free-throw line.
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