NBA Pelicans lose Murray to season-ending torn Achilles

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray will miss the remainder of the NBA season with a ruptured right Achilles tendon, the team announced on Saturday.

Murray averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds over 31 appearances this season, as well as team highs of 7.4 assists and a career-best 2.0 steals per contest.

An MRI exam on Friday night confirmed the extent of the non-contact injury, which occurred in the first quarter of Friday’s 118-116 home loss to reigning NBA champions Boston.

It marks the second major injury setback for the 28-year-old veteran of eight NBA campaigns.

Murray missed the entire 2018-19 season while with San Antonio after suffering a torn right-knee ligament in a preseason game.

He also missed 17 games this season with a fractured left hand suffered in his Pelicans debut, after being obtained in an off-season trade with Atlanta.

The Pelicans, mired in a five-game losing streak, are 12-37 with Murray the latest loss in a season of injury setbacks.

Top scorer Zion Williamson has missed 27 games with a hamstring injury and Brandon Ingram has missed nearly two months with a left-ankle sprain.