NEW ORLEANS (AP) 鈥� Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray injured his left hand during the fourth quarter of New Orleans' season-opening on Wednesday night and his timeline for returning is uncertain.
Murray did not speak with media after the game, during which he had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds while turning the ball over only once. He was scheduled to undergo imaging on Thursday to determine the extent of the injury and how long it might sideline him.
鈥淗opefully, he鈥檚 not out too long,鈥� said Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, adding that Murray stayed in the game after mentioning that his hand was bothering him in the fourth quarter.
鈥淗e looked at me and said his hand didn鈥檛 feel right," McCollum said. "He just continued to play. ... He battled through, he played and played well considering those circumstances.鈥�
Murray was the highest-profile addition to New Orleans' lineup during the offseason, when he was traded to the Pelicans by Atlanta. The Hawks received a package of players and draft picks in return that included Pelicans 2022 first-round draft choice Dyson Daniels, veteran forward Larry Nance and two future first-round draft choices.
Murray's status for Wednesday night's season opener was in doubt even before his injury because he'd left the team days earlier to attend to what coach Willie Green characterized as a family emergency.
鈥淒ejounte had a rough week,鈥� McCollum said. 鈥淗e played well considering he'd been gone for so long.
鈥淗e basically flirted with a triple-double tonight,鈥� McCollum added. 鈥滺e was great for us and will be great for us all season."
Murray helped New Orleans overcome the absence of star power forward Zion Williamson, who was because of an illness.
New Orleans plays next on Friday night at Portland 鈥� the first of a four-game road trip on the West Coast.
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AP NBA:
Brett Martel, The Associated Press
