Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray intends to return to action on Wednesday vs. Toronto, sources tell NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
Murray was the first of several Pelicans regulars to sustain an in-season injury, going down on opening night with a fractured left hand. The 28-year-old was the club’s most significant offseason addition, with the Pelicans sending Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr., and a pair of future first-round picks to Atlanta as part of a package for an impact player they envisioned as their starting point guard.
Murray looked good in that role on October 23, nearly registering a triple-double (14 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds) in 30 minutes of action in the team’s season-opening win over the Bulls. However, he hasn’t played since then, and New Orleans has also seen Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones, Jose Alvarado, and Jordan Hawkins sidelined with multi-week injuries.
The Pelicans have lost 13 of 15 games since winning their first two of the season. They’re running out of time to turn things around in a competitive Western Conference and are expected to be without Williamson and Alvarado for a while yet, but there are reinforcements coming in the backcourt.
While Murray is officially listed as out for Monday’s contest vs. Indiana (Twitter link), his backcourt mate McCollum is probable, indicating he’s likely to return after missing the past 13 games with a right adductor strain. Murray appears on track to rejoin him in the starting lineup two days later.
Brandon Ingram is questionable for Monday’s game with right calf soreness.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
I’d love to see this team fully healthy. I believe it’s one of the most talented rosters in the NBA.
I was really looking forward to watching the Pelicans this year but these injuries have set the team back quite a bit. Murray coming back will be a huge boost.
Don’t get emotionally invested in the Pels. At 4-14, the Pels have already dug a hole too deep to make the play-in for the ultra-competitive Western Conference, where oddsmakers say it’ll take 46 wins to finish 10th.
Pels would need a W-L of 42-22 in remainder of season.
Vegas says 1/100 chance they can do that. Then the’d have to win 2 play-in games on the road to make the playoffs.
The schedule for West teams is brutal. Zion is out indefinitely. Be content if this group can win 50% of their remaining games.