Dejounte Murray Calls Out Pelicans After Embarrassing Loss to Raptors
Let’s just say that Dejounte Murray probably didn’t envision his second game in a New Orleans Pelicans uniform going quite like this. After a promising debut earlier in the season, Murray’s return to the court on Wednesday night was anything but triumphant. The Pelicans suffered a crushing 119-93 loss to the struggling Toronto Raptors, extending their losing streak to six games. And if the boos from the home crowd were any indication, fans were just as frustrated as the players.
“If you’re not embarrassed and really mad about this, that’s a problem,” Murray said after the game. “It’s not really about the loss, [but] how we lost in front of our fans. Like, even the fans booing—I mean, what would you do if you was a fan paying your money? You want to come watch a competitive basketball game, especially from your home team. So, they got all the rights to say what they want, feel how they feel. They deserve a better game.”
Injuries Continue to Plague the Pelicans
The Pelicans’ season has been derailed by injuries, and Wednesday night was no exception. Since Murray fractured his hand during an opening night win against Chicago on October 23, the team has been in a downward spiral. Despite starting the season 2-0 with Zion Williamson and other key players still in the lineup, New Orleans has now lost 15 of its last 17 games, dropping to 4-15 in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.
The injury list reads like a who’s who of the Pelicans’ roster: Williamson (left hamstring), Brandon Ingram (right calf), CJ McCollum (right adductor), Herb Jones (right shoulder), Trey Murphy III (left knee bruise), Jose Alvarado (left hamstring), and Jordan Hawkins (back). Murray himself missed 17 games before returning Wednesday, while McCollum had just come back from a 13-game absence. Even with McCollum’s 19 points and Murray’s 14, the Pelicans couldn’t keep up with Toronto.
“Disgusting” Effort on Defense
What made the loss even more painful was the way it happened. The Raptors, who entered the game winless in 10 road games and last in the NBA in three-pointers made per game (10.4), torched the Pelicans from beyond the arc. Toronto hit a season-high 21 three-pointers, leaving New Orleans scrambling on defense.
“Either they got better overnight, or we’ve got to do a better job closing out and making it more difficult,” McCollum said bluntly. “It was a horrible showing. From top to bottom, we’ve all got to be better.”
Head coach Willie Green didn’t mince words either, calling out his team’s lack of effort. “We allowed a team to come on our home floor and really make us look soft,” Green said. “That’s what I told our group. That can’t happen.”
What’s Next for the Pelicans?
With 63 games left in the season, the Pelicans still have time to turn things around, but the clock is ticking. Their next test comes Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, and the team knows it needs to show more fight.
“When you’ve got guys in, guys out, guys in, guys out, it’s really tough,” Murray admitted. “But I think it’s not tough to compete. You can’t get punked. You can’t get pushed around. Tonight, it was just disgusting. We’ve got to compete. We’ve got to play harder, no matter who’s on the floor.”
Players were given part of Thanksgiving Day off to spend time with family before traveling to Memphis. But as Murray pointed out, the team can’t afford to dwell on the loss for too long. “As soon as we get on that plane, we got to lock in to understanding what just happened,” he said. “You don’t want bad habits to carry over.”
Key Takeaways
- The Pelicans are now 4-15 and have lost 15 of their last 17 games.
- Injuries to key players like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum have severely impacted the team’s performance.
- Toronto, previously winless on the road, hit a season-high 21 three-pointers against New Orleans.
- Dejounte Murray and coach Willie Green both emphasized the need for more effort and competitiveness moving forward.
McCollum summed it up best: “Time is ticking. And it isn’t getting any easier.” For the Pelicans, the road ahead is daunting, but Friday’s game in Memphis will be a chance to show whether they’re ready to fight their way back into contention—or if this season is already slipping away.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
