Dejounte

Murray

Murray is back after sitting out Thursday’s win over the Clippers, which was the second game in as many nights for the Pelicans. His return means that Yves Missi will head to the bench after starting the last time out.

Thursday’s game is the second in as many nights for Murray and the Pelicans, so he’ll sit for injury management reasons. In the past, Yves Missi has moved into the starting lineup, with Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy and even Herb Jones taking on more playmaking responsibilities.

Murray returned from a one-game absence (illness) to log his first double-double of the season. He had a fairly balanced performance overall as a lead guard, shooting efficiently en route to tallying the third-most points on the team, while functioning as the clear table setter on Wednesday. The veteran guard has played very well early in his return from Achilles surgery. He could be an important player throughout the fantasy playoffs.

Murray missed Monday’s game against the Mavericks due to illness, but it appears that he will return on Wednesday. The Pelicans had inserted Yves Missi into the starting lineup to go bigger against the Mavericks. He will probably move back to the bench on Wednesday.

Murray is questionable with an illness after missing Monday’s win over the Mavericks. The Pelicans opted for a bigger lineup without Murray on Monday with Yves Missi playing with the starters. Missi had four points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 28 minutes and could be in for a similar workload if Murray is ultimately ruled out again.

Murray is out after being listed as questionable on the initial injury report. The Pelicans went big the last time he missed a game, with Yves Missi moving into the starting lineup. A similar approach on Monday would raise Missi’s short-term fantasy ceiling.

Murray had his most productive game of the season on Friday, dropping 34 points in a loss to the Rockets. If he’s unable to play on Monday, the Pelicans could go big, with Yves Missi moving into the starting lineup. He received the nod the last time Murray missed a game.

While the Rockets managed to win the game, they never came up with a suitable answer to Murray defensively. Enjoying his most productive game of the season, the Pelicans’ guard shot 8-of-10 from the field in the first half. Murray shot 6-of-8 in the second half, finishing with his first 30-point game of the season. The Pelicans don’t play again this week, and their four-game Week 21 includes a back-to-back. As a result, Murray managers may have him for three games.

Jayson Tatum isn’t the only player who’s looked good recently since returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Murray has improved by the game in New Orleans, and his showing against the Raptors was his best yet. The Pelicans point guard surpassed the 20-point mark for the first time this season, and he also provided solid value in rebounds, assists and steals. The concern for fantasy managers going into the playoff weeks for Yahoo! default leagues: the schedule. New Orleans has a back-to-back in Weeks 21, 22 and 23, which isn’t good for Murray’s availability.

Murray is back after sitting out Thursday’s win over the Kings. His return pushes Yves Missi to the bench, with the Pelicans beginning Friday’s game without a true center.