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Oct 23, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) during warmups before the game against the Chicago Bulls at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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Oct 23, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) during warmups before the game against the Chicago Bulls at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Dejounte Murray debuted for the New Orleans Pelicans in their opening game against the Chicago Bulls. He hit the ground running in New Orleans right away and logged 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 assists. Murray was having a great time up until the fourth quarter with just 2 minutes left as attempting a 3-pointer from the top of the key and was fouled by Zach LaVine on his way down. He tumbled over and came up holding his left hand, refusing the assistance of his teammates as he stood up. Murray managed to take the free throws, making two out of three before being subbed off.
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He did not speak to reporters after the game, but later, the Pelicans revealed that he had sustained a fracture in his left hand and would be out indefinitely. According to Shams Charania from ESPN, “Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray has undergone successful surgery on his fractured left hand and will miss four-to-six weeks, sources tell ESPN.” This will be a significant blow to the Pelicans’ season, as Murray was a key part of their lineup heading into the season.
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Murray’s debut was in doubt even before his injury due to a family emergency, but he still delivered a solid performance. His teammate CJ McCollum commented after the game, “He looked at me and said his hand didn’t feel right. He just continued to play. … He battled through, he played and played well considering those circumstances,” stating that considering the pain he was in, Murray still did not give up.
The Pelicans started their season with a win but will now face the Portland Trail Blazers without Dejounte Murray. They’ll need to adapt quickly and rely on their depth until he fully recovers.
What’s next for the Pelicans with Murray’s absence?
Dejounte Murray is set to miss four to six weeks due to the fracture in his non-shooting left hand. It will be essential for other players, particularly the role players, to step up and keep the team competitive in his absence. Although Murray’s injury is a setback, the Pelicans are no strangers to navigating challenges due to injuries, as seen whenever Zion Williamson has been sidelined.
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Oct 23, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (5) shoots a jump shot against Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (7) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
With his surgery successful, there’s hope he’ll be back on the court soon, which is a positive sign for the team. However, they are running thin at the guard position, as they now have two guards on the injury list—Murray and Trey Murphy III. CJ McCollum, originally expected to take on more of a scoring role this season, will likely need to resume his role as a facilitator.
Jose Alvarado will also need to elevate his game, likely seeing increased minutes. He played around 13 minutes in the opener, but this could rise to 20 minutes with Murray sidelined. Brandon Ingram is also expected to take on a more versatile role, sharing point guard responsibilities with McCollum. The Pelicans face the challenge of staying competitive in a stacked Western Conference as they await Murray’s recovery.
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Ananya Giri