New Orleans Pelicans DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (undisclosed) was helped directly to the locker room after crumpling to the ground while chasing a rebound in the first quarter. After the non-contact injury, the star guard grabbed at the back of his leg, which could indicate an Achilles injury. The injury clearly seemed serious based on the reaction of his teammates and the fans in the building. Before leaving, Murray had only had four points and five rebounds in eight minutes. For as long as Murray is sidelined, CJ McCollum will have to carry the load for the Pelicans in the backcourt, while Jose Alvarado will be more involved and could replace Murray in the lineup. The Pelicans have had brutal injury issues all season, and Murray's injury could potentially end his first season after just 30 games with New Orleans.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (elbow, finger) has been cleared for action ahead of Friday's tilt against the Boston Celtics. Murray is nursing an elbow and a finger injury but has been upgraded from probable to available. This is a significant boost for the Pelicans since Zion Williamson (illness) will not take the floor against the defending champions. With Williamson unavailable, Murray will lead the Pelicans offense alongside CJ McCollum and Trey Murphy III. Murray has averaged 25.0 points over his past four appearances.

According to Erin Summers of the Gulf Coast Sports & Entertainment Network, New Orleans Pelicans forward/centerZion Williamson(illness) won't suit up against the Boston Celtics on Friday. Williamson is coming off 29-point outing on Wednesday against Dallas. He also contributed six rebounds, seven assists and two steals. However, he will be out of action on Friday due to a stomach issue. While the 24-year-old star forward is on the shelf, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Javonte Green will likely see an uptick in minutes on the floor.

Toronto Raptors forward/center Kelly Olynyk (calf) will return from a three-game absence on Friday against the Chicago Bulls. His return will likely push Orlando Robinson out of the rotation. Before sustaining a right calf strain, Olynyk had picked up good momentum with a three-game streak of double-digit points. He also averaged 3.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks during that stretch. The Bulls generally struggle on the defensive end, so Olynyk's scoring streak may continue on Friday.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (elbow/finger) is dealing with a couple of different injuries to his elbow and finger, but is still considered probable to play against the Boston Celtics on Friday. The Pelicans continue to deal with tons of injuries, so they'll lean on Murray for a lot on both sides of the ball. He'll have a bit of an uphill battle against a solid all-around team like the Celtics, but is still a must-start as long as he plays. On the off chance that he gets downgraded, Javonte Green and Brandon Boston Jr. would both see a big boost in minutes.