Sources – Pelicans fear Dejounte Murray broke hand in opening game

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray suffered a fractured left hand during Wednesday night's season-opening 123-111 win over the Chicago Bulls, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Tests confirmed the injury to the former All-Star, who will now be sidelined for a long period of time.

Murray recorded 14 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds in his debut for New Orleans, which brought him to the Atlanta Hawks in an offseason trade.

With just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, it appeared he had either suffered or aggravated the injury. With New Orleans up 12 points, Murray attempted a three-pointer from the top of the key and was fouled by Zach LaVine on the way down. Murray fell over and came up with his left hand, then refused help when a teammate tried to pick him up again with that hand.

Murray still managed to get to the free throw line and made 2 of 3, but was finally subbed off with a minute to play.

He did not speak to reporters after the game.

“Hopefully he won’t be out too long,” Pelicans guard CJ McCollum said.

“He looked at me and said his hand didn’t feel right. He just kept playing. … He fought through it, he played and played well under the circumstances.”

Murray's status for the opener was already in question before his injury, after he left the team days earlier to attend to what coach Willie Green described as a family emergency.

He became the third player in Pelicans history with 10 assists in his team debut, joining Elfrid Payton (2018) and Baron Davis (2002). Murray only had one turnover on the night. Last season with the Hawks, he had just two total games with 10 assists and one or fewer turnovers.

“Dejounte had a tough week,” McCollum said. “He played well considering he was away for so long.

“He basically flirted with a triple-double tonight. He’s been great for us and will be great for us all season long.”

New Orleans was already missing star forward Zion Williamson, who was left from the lineup Wednesday because of an illness.

The next game is next Friday night in Portland – the first of a four-game West Coast road trip.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.