Pelicans Star Guard Expected to Make Return to Lineup This Week

The New Orleans Pelicans will be getting a massive boost to their team in the coming days. Star guard Dejounte Murray will make his return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported the news on social media.

Murray has been out for weeks due to suffering a fractured left hand on opening night. The veteran guard has only played in one game this season for New Orleans, putting up 14 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, and one steal.

The Pelicans have been ravaged by injuries to start the season so getting Murray back will be a sigh of relief. Murray was acquired by New Orleans over the offseason to give this team another jolt in the backcourt.

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In addition to Murray, New Orleans has been without star guard C.J. McCollum and star forward Zion Williamson. Without the services of multiple key players, the Pelicans have struggled to find any sort of consistency on the floor.

The team holds a record of 4-13 for the year, sitting in last place within the Western Conference standings. But getting Murray back should provide New Orleans with some better luck moving forward.

Until the other players return, Murray and star forward Brandon Ingram will be running the show. This will give New Orleans a chance to fully see how Murray fits in alongside this team as they look to get back into the playoff picture.

Last season with the Atlanta Hawks, Murray averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Murray has emerged around the league in recent years as a very talented defensive guard who can also get to the rim with ease.

The veteran has additionally stepped up his 3-point shooting over the past few seasons, coming in with a 36.3 clip from distance last year.

While it's still early in the NBA season, New Orleans knows that if they fall too far down, the playoffs will be a long shot. The West is absolutely loaded with talent so New Orleans will need to start picking up wins sooner rather than later.

The Pelicans were expected to be contenders in the West this season but injuries have fully knocked them down a peg. The hope is that their injury luck turns around, with this news about Murray starting it all.

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