New Orleans Pelicans Giving Dejounte Murray Extra Day Of Rest Vs. Atlanta Hawks

Well, New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is not back in the lineup against hte Atlanta Hawks  after all. He did make it back to the building and was not on the injury report, but the team is going to end up sitting him as he gets some extra rest. Murray had missed the last game against the Sacramento Kings to see to the birth of his child. 

This comes as a bit of a surprise, as the expectation was to have him back for this game. There was some anticipation to see what was going to happen with both him and Jeremiah Fears available again. The starting backcourt of those two had potential, but didn't look great over the first couple of games. The decision on whether to sit one of them (and who to sit if they did) will come a few games later.

Instead of making a change, the Pelicans are just going to run it back with the same group that they had in the last game: Fears, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson.

Of the first couple of lineups they had rolled out, that was clearly the best. That exact group has been on the court together for just 11 minutes, but had a +78.6 net rating in that time.

To be fair, though, that group did that against the Kings. Sacramento is probably the worst team in the NBA. This game against the Hawks will be a better test, as that is a team with playoff aspirations. A win could make the case to keep this lineup the same no matter what.

The next chance for Murray to return will be on Monday night on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies.