Dejounte Murray has been a recurring name on the New Orleans Pelicans’ medical reports for over a year. He finally made his season debut on February 24, 2026, against the Golden State Warriors. Despite appearing in 10 of the 15 games since returning, Murray has been given plenty of rest due to injury management and is often listed as questionable.
Dejounte Murray Cleared for Pelicans vs. Pistons Clash
But as the Pelicans prepare to face the Detroit Pistons on March 26 at Little Caesars Arena, the question remains whether the star guard would be cleared for action. While an earlier injury report suggested Murray’s status for the Pistons game was “iffy,” the latest update brings fans a sigh of relief.
The team previously stated that with the Pelicans no longer in the mix for a postseason spot, they may be very cautious with Murray going forward. However, the 6-foot-5 playmaker is ready to go for tonight’s matchup in the Pistons.
Murray suffered a devastating non-contact injury on January 31, 2025, while trying to retrieve his own missed shot’s rebound. The season-ending ruptured right Achilles tendon forced him into a grueling 13-month rehabilitation process. Since his return, the Pelicans have been careful not to overexert him.
Dejounte Murray (Achilles) available Thursday https://t.co/EVgx0hFx8C via @Koslow_ari #Pelicans
— FantasyPros (@FantasyProsNBA) March 26, 2026
The Pelicans are traveling to the Pistons for their Thursday night clash against the Eastern Conference leaders and will require all hands on deck. Murray was listed as questionable earlier in the week against the Los Angeles Clippers, but the latest update confirms that he is officially available to play.
This gives the Pelicans squad a significant boost as it looks to find a rhythm in the final stretch of the 2025-26 regular season. Murray will shed his questionable tag for the front end of this back-to-back set, according to the latest report from Rotowire. He is officially available for Thursday’s game against the Pistons.
The Pelicans are currently 11th in the Western Conference with a 25-48 record, trailing the Warriors, who are 10th with a 35-38 record. Although the Pelicans’ dream of making it to the Play-In Tournament is already extinguished, a late-season boost can give them some confidence going into next season.
Since returning to the floor, Murray has appeared in 10 of the Pelicans’ last 15 contests, showing impressive flashes of his former All-Star self. He recently put up a 35-point performance with seven rebounds and four assists while going 14-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the 3-point line against the Rockets.
Though the Pelicans lost that game by 2 points (107-105), it was an empowering experience for the team. For the 2025-26 season, Murray is averaging 18.7 points, 6.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in about 27.6 minutes per game. His presence brings the Pelicans a primary playmaker and a defensive disruptor who can match up with the Pistons’ backcourt.
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After playing the Pistons, the team will travel to Scotiabank Arena to face the Toronto Raptors. However, reports indicate that Murray will presumably be rested on Friday against the Raptors. This highlights that the Pelicans’ front office will play it safe and give Murray a rest for Friday’s match.
His participation tonight is vital as the team will rely on his two-way brilliance to navigate the Pistons’ tough defense.
