Dejounte Murray's season came to an abrupt end on Friday night as he suffered a torn Achilles tendon during a closely contested game against the Boston Celtics. The injury occurred while Murray was driving into the lane for a shot. After missing the basket, he attempted to chase down the rebound when the unfortunate incident transpired.
The New Orleans Pelicans ultimately fell to the Celtics with a narrow score of 118-116, marking another setback in what has been a challenging season for the team. At the time of his injury, Murray was averaging 17.9 points, 7.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, all of which led the Pelicans. His absence will undoubtedly be felt as the team continues to navigate through a season riddled with injuries.
The Pelicans have struggled throughout the year, having already played without key players including Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Herb Jones due to various injuries. This latest setback to Murray adds to the team's mounting challenges and underscores their injury woes. Pelicans coach Willie Green expressed the emotional toll of losing such an impactful player.
"Extremely difficult, when you see a guy that means so much to our team and puts the work in go down like that," said Coach Green.
He further elaborated on the ongoing difficulties faced by the squad:
"Those are the challenges that we've been going through pretty much all season."
The loss against the Celtics was not just a defeat on the scoreboard but also a significant emotional blow to the Pelicans’ roster. Murray’s contributions had been crucial for the team, and his absence is expected to impact their performance moving forward.
As the Pelicans look ahead, they will need to rally together in the face of adversity. The coaching staff will have to strategize without one of their key players while continuing to manage the roster's depth. The team’s resilience will be tested as they aim to remain competitive despite the hurdles they face this season.
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