Dejounte Murray Gets Crucial Injury Update Before Pelicans-Mavericks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Nathaniel Holloway | Last updated Jan 29, 2025 6:56 PM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night and they received some positive news ahead of tipoff.

Before the game, New Orleans announced that point guard Dejounte Murray is available to play in Wednesday’s matchup against Dallas. Murray returned to the Pelicans’ lineup in Monday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors after missing Saturday’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets due to an elbow and finger injury.

This is great news for the Pelicans who have been decimated by injuries all season. While Murray is available, they did rule out Jordan Hawkins due to a non-Covid illness. Hawkins will join Brandon Ingram and Herbert Jones who remain out of the Pelicans’ lineup as they continue to recover from injuries.

Updated Injury Report vs. Dallas:

Dejounte Murray (right elbow bursitis; right index finger sprain) is AVAILABLE

Jordan Hawkins (Non-COVID Illness) is OUT https://t.co/PESYHIThoL
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 29, 2025

While the Pelicans will be without some of their players, so will the Mavericks. Dallas will be without Luka Dončić, Dereck Lively, Jai Marshall, Maxi Kleber, Dwight Powell and Dante Exum.

For the Pelicans, this is a great opportunity to pick up a win against a depleted Mavericks’ team, especially coming off two bad losses to two of the worst teams in the NBA. Of course, the Pelicans are also one of the worst teams in the league as they currently sit 14th in the Western Conference standings with a 12-35 record, but with them becoming healthier, they could be better down the stretch.

The Pelicans should run through Zion Williamson in Wednesday’s matchup, especially with Dallas’ frontcourt being beat up. Zion has been great since returning from a hamstring injury, but he is still on a minutes restriction.

New Orleans should also see production from C.J. McCollum and Murray, both of whom have been solid over the past few weeks.

Fans can catch Wednesday night’s matchup between the Pelicans and Mavericks at 8:00 p.m. EST.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: