Pelicans Rule Out Dejounte Murray Against Hawks for Personal Reasons

The New Orleans Pelicans ruled out Dejounte Murray for personal reasons for Saturday’s home game against the Atlanta Hawks. Murray was listed as out on the NBA’s 7 p.m. EDT injury report after previously being absent from the report. The team did not list an injury for him.

New Orleans was also without Jordan Poole because of a left ankle sprain and Yves Missi because of a left knee contusion. Poole missed his second consecutive game, while Missi missed his fourth straight. Murray had also been unavailable for Thursday’s victory against the Sacramento Kings for personal reasons.

Jeremiah Fears supplied 22 points, eight rebounds, a career-high 13 assists and four blocks in that 132–120 victory. Zion Williamson also scored 22 points as New Orleans won for the first time this season after four opening defeats. The result left the Pelicans at 1–4 entering Saturday’s matchup.

Atlanta came in at 3–3 after beating the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday. Onyeka Okongwu had 29 points and 12 rebounds in that victory, with Nickeil Alexander-Walker contributing 25 points. The Hawks were without Mouhamed Gueye because of a left foot fracture and Henri Veesaar because of a torn right ACL.

Jock Landale was available for Atlanta despite a nasal fracture. The Hawks had won their previous four meetings with New Orleans, including both games last season, according to Field Level Media’s matchup report. Murray averaged 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists in his first four appearances this season, according to the NBA’s current player statistics.

Murray’s late absence could leave Fears handling more of the offense, with Bennedict Mathurin a possible starting option, RotoWire reported. Herbert Jones and Mathurin also provided options with Poole sidelined. New Orleans visits Memphis on Monday before returning home to face Utah on Wednesday, according to the team’s schedule.