Murray Misses Pelicans Game to Attend Son's Birth
The New Orleans Pelicans played the Sacramento Kings on Thursday without star guard Dejounte Murray.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Basketball
Dejounte Murray was absent from the New Orleans Pelicans lineup against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday to attend the birth of his son. Jordan Poole also missed the matchup following a left ankle sprain sustained earlier in the week.
Why it matters
The absence of key players disrupts team continuity and forces immediate adjustments to coaching strategies and rotations. Murray specifically leaves a void in production for the Pelicans, who look to manage their performance despite the late-notice lineup shifts.
Dejounte Murray enters the game averaging 17.8 points, 6 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per contest. The Pelicans adjusted their rotation to feature Jeremiah Fears, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, and Karlo Matkovic as starters.
The players
Dejounte Murray
He is a starting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans who is currently averaging 17.8 points per game.
Jordan Poole
He is an active professional basketball player who sat out the recent game against the Pelicans due to an ankle injury.
Jamahl Mosley
He serves as the head coach for the New Orleans Pelicans and manages the team's rotation and game-day lineup decisions.
Zion Williamson
He is a central forward for the New Orleans Pelicans who was included in the starting lineup against the Sacramento Kings.
The details
Coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed that Murray sat out to be present for the birth of his child. Meanwhile, Jordan Poole remained sidelined due to a left ankle injury suffered during a game against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday.
Timeline
Wednesday: Jordan Poole sustained a left ankle sprain against the Denver Nuggets.
Thursday: Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole missed the game against the Sacramento Kings.
Season Trajectory
These sudden absences force the Pelicans to rely on depth players like Herb Jones and Karlo Matkovic, who recorded their first starts of the season. The ability of the rotation to stabilize without primary scorers is critical for maintaining ground in the competitive Western Conference standings.
With Murray and Poole out, fantasy managers and bettors should note the increased usage rates for Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy. The insertion of new starters into the rotation creates potential volatility in the Pelicans' offensive efficiency and defensive consistency.
The takeaway
Sudden roster changes highlight the importance of depth as teams frequently face unexpected personnel absences during the season. Understanding these fluctuations is essential for tracking both team progress and individual player contributions.
Further reading
For ongoing coverage of roster developments and team performance, visit the Basketball section.
