The Pelicans are likely holding their breath despite a opening-night win.
Star Dejounte Murray is “feared” to have suffered a fractured left hand in New Orleans’ 123-111 win over the visiting Bulls on Wednesday night, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.
Murray played just shy of 30 minutes, recording a double-double with 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in the win.
Though it’s not immediately clear when Murray got hurt, he appeared to grab his left hand after getting fouled on a 3-point attempt by the Bulls’ Zach LaVine.
Murray stayed in the game and made 2 of 3 free-throw attempts, but was eventually subbed out of the game with a minute left in the fourth quarter.
“Hopefully, he’s not out too long,” Pelicans guard CJ McCollum told reporters after the game, per the Associated Press. “He looked at me and said his hand didn’t feel right. He just continued to play. … He battled through, he played and played well considering those circumstances.”
Murray was acquired in a big trade with the Hawks right after the 2024 NBA Draft in a move to bolster New Orleans’ backcourt.
Last season, he averaged a career-best 22.5 points while with the Hawks.
