Dejounte Murray (right) had missed 17 games with an injury to his left hand.
Dejounte Murray returned to action in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 119-93 loss to Toronto on Wednesday night. His 25 minutes were his first since fracturing his left hand in a season-opening victory over Chicago on Oct. 23.
The former All-Star guard resumed his spot in the starting lineup for New Orleans, finishing with 14 points, but could not prevent the Pelicans from suffering their sixth consecutive loss.
After practice on Tuesday, Murray discussed his impending return and disclosed more details about the previously unspecified “personal matters” that caused him to leave the team during the final days of the preseason.
His mother had a stroke, he said.
“It was tough to leave and go deal with that. As she got better, she wanted me to come play,” Murray said of his last-minute decision to start against Chicago.
He added that his hand injury near the end of that game was God’s way of telling him, “‘Nah, you need to stay with your mom.’”
“I was more concerned about my mother. That was my priority,” Murray continued. “I wasn’t really worried about my recovery.”
Murray’s mother has recovered well, he said, while he is “healthy and ready to help this team.”
“I’m ready to hoop. Play for my mother — she’s going to be watching,” Murray said. “I’m ready to compete, bring that winning spirit.”
Injuries have ravaged the roster. At times, all five starters have been out. Star power forward Zion Williamson has missed 12 games this season — one with an illness and 11 with a hamstring injury. Herb Jones has been sidelined by a shoulder strain and Brandon Ingram missed another game with calf soreness that also sidelined him during a loss on Monday night at Indiana.
“I don’t care how many games we’ve lost. I just know every time I step on the floor I feel like we can win games,” said Murray, who had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in his lone game with the Pelicans. “That’s just my mentality, and I feel like it can carry over to a lot of guys.”
The former All-Star was acquired by New Orleans in an offseason trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Over eight NBA seasons, Murray is averaging 15.4 points, 5.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
