The New Orleans Pelicans suffered another major setback as forward Trey Murphy III has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn labrum.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Murphy sustained the injury in the first quarter of Monday’s 127-81 loss to the Detroit Pistons, dislocating his right shoulder before further evaluation confirmed structural damage.
Murphy was in the midst of a breakout year, averaging 21.2 points per game while surpassing 150 made three-pointers for the third straight season. His absence leaves a significant void in New Orleans’ lineup as the team continues to struggle in the Western Conference.
The Pelicans (18-51) have now lost seven of their last eight games and were thoroughly outplayed by the Pistons, who led by as many as 46 points. Zion Williamson finished with 30 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, but New Orleans shot just 32.6% from the field and 15.6% from beyond the arc.
Detroit (38-31) dominated from the start, using a 24-5 run spanning the first and second quarters to seize control. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 24 points and eight assists, while Simone Fontecchio added 23 points on 9-for-10 shooting off the bench.
Murphy’s injury adds to an already difficult season for New Orleans, which has dealt with multiple key players missing time due to health issues. His shooting and perimeter defense had been a bright spot, but the team will now have to adjust without him for the remainder of the campaign.
