Dejounte Murray (left hand fracture) out indefinitely

Pelicans level guard Dejounte Murray shall be out indefinitely after struggling a fracture in his left hand. The damage, which occurred through the fourth quarter of a season-opening 123-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, was formally introduced by New Orleans on Thursday.

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Murray didn’t converse with media after the sport, throughout which he had 14 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds whereas turning the ball over solely as soon as. He was scheduled to endure imaging on Thursday to find out the extent of the damage and the way lengthy it would sideline him.

“Hopefully, he’s not out too lengthy,” mentioned Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, including that Murray stayed within the recreation after mentioning that his hand was bothering him within the fourth quarter.

“He checked out me and mentioned his hand didn’t really feel proper,” McCollum mentioned. “He simply continued to play. … He battled by way of, he performed and performed nicely contemplating these circumstances.”

Murray was the highest-profile addition to New Orleans’ lineup through the offseason, when he was traded to the Pelicans by Atlanta. The Hawks obtained a package deal of gamers and draft picks in return that included Pelicans 2022 first-round draft selection Dyson Daniels, veteran ahead Larry Nance and two future first-round draft selections.

Murray’s standing for Wednesday evening’s season opener was doubtful even earlier than his damage as a result of he’d left the staff days earlier to take care of what coach Willie Inexperienced characterised as a household emergency.

“Dejounte had a tough week,” McCollum mentioned. “He performed nicely contemplating he’d been gone for therefore lengthy.

“He principally flirted with a triple-double tonight,” McCollum added. ”He was nice for us and shall be nice for us all season.”

Whereas Murray is out for some time, fellow swingman Trey Murphy III has been cleared to start the return-to-play conditioning part of his rehab, however is probably going out one other two weeks.

Murray helped New Orleans overcome the absence of star energy ahead Zion Williamson, who was scratched from the lineup due to an sickness.

New Orleans performs subsequent on Friday evening at Portland — the primary of a four-game highway journey on the West Coast.

Info from The Related Press was used on this report.