In a devastating turn of events, Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray sustained a torn Achilles tendon during a 118-116 loss to the Boston Celtics. The injury occurred after Murray drove into the lane, missed his shot, and went to chase the rebound. As he attempted to recover, Murray collapsed to the court in visible pain, clutching his right foot. He was unable to continue and hobbled off the court, quickly being ruled out for the remainder of the game with a lower right leg injury. Following the game, it was confirmed that the injury was a torn Achilles, ending his season.
Team Struggling with Injuries
The Pelicans, already dealing with multiple injuries, were without key players such as Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Herb Jones in the loss to the Celtics. With Murray’s injury, the team’s challenges intensified, and they fell to a 12-27 record. Notably, the trio of Ingram, Williamson, and Murray had not played a single game together all season. Pelicans coach Willie Green reflected on the team’s struggles, emphasizing the difficulty of losing such an important player and the ongoing injury woes that have plagued the squad throughout the season.

Before the injury, Murray had been a significant contributor to the Pelicans’ lineup. He had been averaging 17.9 points, 7.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Additionally, Murray had recently been on a hot streak, recording four consecutive games with at least 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists—matching the longest streak of his career and the longest by any Pelicans player since Ingram in 2022. His leadership on the floor had been crucial, especially as he helped to drive the team’s offense.
Offensive Struggles Without Murray
Murray’s absence this season had already impacted the Pelicans’ offensive performance. In the 30 games he played, the team averaged 114.0 points per game, ranking them tied for 13th in the league. However, in the 18 games they played without him, their scoring dropped significantly to an average of just 102.4 points per game, the lowest in the NBA during that stretch. Murray’s playmaking and scoring ability had been a key factor in New Orleans’ offensive production, making his injury even more detrimental to the team’s prospects.
Following the injury, Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, who scored 40 points in the loss to Boston, spoke about the emotional impact on the team. He expressed how difficult it was to see Murray go down, especially after everything the guard had already endured this season, including a previous 17-game absence due to a broken hand. Murphy reflected on the bigger picture, suggesting that while it was painful, the challenges might have a deeper purpose that would ultimately lead to growth and resilience for the team.