NBA: Pelicans lose Murray to season-ending torn Achilles

WASHINGTON, United States — 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 (Sunday, Manila time). 

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 champion 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 pre-season 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.