NEW ORLEANS — During the fourth quarter of the season-opening game, New Orleans Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray sustained an injury to his left hand while leading the team to a 123-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls. The timeline for his recovery remains uncertain.

Murray did not address the media following the game, but he finished with solid stats, recording 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, with just one turnover during his time on the court. He planned to undergo medical imaging the following day to assess the severity of the injury and the potential duration of his absence.

“Fingers crossed he won’t be out for too long,” expressed Pelicans guard CJ McCollum, who noted that Murray remained in the game even after mentioning discomfort with his hand late in the fourth quarter.

“He looked at me and said his hand didn’t feel right,” McCollum shared. “He just continued to play. … Despite that, he performed well under the circumstances.”

Murray was a significant offseason acquisition for the Pelicans, coming over from Atlanta in a trade that sent a collection of players and draft picks, including the Pelicans’ 2022 first-round pick Dyson Daniels, veteran forward Larry Nance, and two future first-round selections back to the Hawks.

Even before the injury, there were questions about Murray’s availability for the season opener after he had left the team for several days due to what coach Willie Green referred to as a family emergency.

“Dejounte had a tough week,” McCollum remarked. “Considering he’d been absent for so long, he performed admirably.”

“Tonight, he was on the verge of a triple-double,” McCollum continued. “He was fantastic for us and is expected to be a key player throughout the season.”

Murray’s contributions were vital for New Orleans, especially in the absence of star power forward Zion Williamson, who was sidelined due to illness.

The Pelicans next face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, kicking off a four-game road trip along the West Coast.