Tragedy strikes the Pelicans! They are having a terrible season as they have won only 12 games so far and are among the bottom two teams in the West. And they were up for another massive challenge tonight, going head-to-head against the reigning champs, Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, their problems increased tenfold when Dejounte Murray was forced to leave the game because of a scary injury.

The incident occurred midway through the opening quarter. Murray drove to the basket for a running floater. He missed the shot and dove to grab his own rebound, splitting the defense with a dribble move. That’s when things went south as he fell to the floor and immediately grabbed his right ankle, hinting that something was wrong.

As the play continued, Murray was slow to get up and limped off the floor in visible pain. In a scary sight, he subbed out and had to be helped to the locker room after only eight minutes of play.

Dejounte left the game scoring 4 points and five rebounds, and Jose Alvarado checked in to replace him. Adding to the concerns, it was later reported Murray would not return for the remainder of the game. Well, a non-contact injury is never a good sign. The worst case scenario is a torn Achilles, which would likely end his season.

Obviously, that would be a massive blow to the team as Murray has been in solid form so far, averaging 17.5 points and 7.4 assists. And the Pels would be left with a massive void without him. Moreover, the timing of his injury is unfortunate because the New Orleans Pelicans already face injuries with multiple sidelined superstars.

Dejounte Murray’s setback raises concerns amid Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram’s absence

Even before Murray got injured, the Pels already played the game at a major disadvantage. That’s because Zion and Ingram were not available to suit up. Of course, BI has not played since early December. The reason? A left ankle injury. And he has not been cleared for contact drills yet, which means Ingram is unlikely to return anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Zion is out with a stomach illness. Sure, he has been solid since his return, averaging 23.6 points and over eight rebounds. But the high flyer has frequently been in and out of the lineup as the Pelicans remain cautious about his health. And the illness only raises those concerns. With two stars already on the sidelines, Murray’s injury could end all hopes for the franchise.

They were already struggling to climb the standings for playoff contention and without the firepower, the comeback seems unlikely. Do you think it’s time for the Pelicans to give up on their season?