Pelicans’ Dejounte Murray reportedly out for season with torn achilles tendon

New Orleans guard Dejounte Murray left the Pelicans’ sport in opposition to Boston within the first quarter Friday night time with an damage to his decrease proper leg, and the workforce was bracing to be with out him for an prolonged interval as soon as once more.

Pelicans coach Willie Inexperienced stated he noticed Murray briefly after the sport, which New Orleans misplaced 118-116. Murray suffered a non-contact damage and was grabbing within the space of his proper achilles tendon earlier than hobbling to the bench.

“It’s a problem. It’s a problem,” Inexperienced stated. “I’ll depart it at that.”

Inexperienced didn’t present a analysis of the damage, solely saying that Murray – who missed 17 video games earlier this season with a damaged hand – would get some imaging. “We’ll have an replace after that,” Inexperienced stated.

Whereas not disclosing what Murray stated, Jose Alvarado stated his injured teammate spoke to the group at halftime.

“He’s one of many hardest troopers I do know,” Alvarado stated. “He’s so robust mentally not less than what he reveals to us. He held his head excessive. He was ready for us at halftime. He informed us the information, and I believe I shed a tear. He’s simply so strong. He going to be our chief. I informed him, ‘I ship my prayers as much as you.’”

ESPN and veteran NBA journalist Chris Haynes reported that Murray tore his achilles tendon and can miss the remainder of the season.

Murray had pushed into the lane and took a shot, then went to chase after his miss. However he fell to the courtroom and grabbed on the space close to his proper foot. When he bought up, he hobbled towards the close by Pelicans bench.

“It damage loads, l can’t deceive you,” stated Trey Murphy III, who scored 40 factors within the loss. “He’s been via loads already, and it doesn’t assist. However lots of instances God places you thru conditions to be able to offer you an even bigger message. I believe that’s what’s occurring proper now. It’s not all the time simple to know what he’s saying, however there all the time a purpose.”

Shortly after the damage, the Pelicans introduced Murray wouldn’t return to the sport.

“Extraordinarily troublesome, whenever you see a man which means a lot to our workforce and places the work in go down like that,” Inexperienced stated. “We’ll proceed to wish for him and see what occurs as soon as he will get the imaging.”

The injury-riddled Pelicans have been already taking part in with out Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Herb Jones.

“These are the challenges that we’ve been going via just about all season,” Inexperienced stated.

The Pelicans (12-37) are next-to-last within the Western Convention and properly out of the playoff image. Shedding Murray once more would solely add to a irritating season that went horribly mistaken for New Orleans.

“We’ll be sure that we proceed to help him,” Inexperienced stated. “We’ll look forward to the outcomes, however regardless of the case we’ll be sure that we’re there to help him.”