Trey Murphy III Sidelined With Knee Injury Just As He Was Saving The Pelicans

Just when Trey Murphy III finally looked like the guy who could save the New Orleans Pelicans from themselves, the injury report claimed another victim. Underdog NBA reported late Wednesday that Murphy is officially out against the Utah Jazz with a knee issue.

Being a Pelicans fan right now is basically a full-time job in crisis management. Murphy was absolutely cooking, and now he is back in street clothes. If you are holding a ticket on New Orleans to make a run in the West, you might want to check the return policy.

"Underdog NBA reported the official injury designation late Wednesday."

The timing is objectively brutal. Over his last five games, Murphy was putting up video game numbers, averaging 26.6 points, seven boards, and five assists while shooting 57.3 percent from the floor. He literally just dragged this team out of a seven-game losing streak with a massive win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Now the Pelicans have to face Utah without their hottest hand. New Orleans is sitting at 3-4 in the Western Conference, which is not a disaster yet, but the West does not wait for anyone to get healthy.

From a betting perspective, a late scratch like this throws the entire board into a blender. Murphy is worth real points to the spread right now, and his absence usually drags the team total down with him. Sportsbooks will adjust the lines immediately, but anyone who grabbed the early numbers is either thrilled or sick to their stomach.

The real concern is the sheer variety of Murphy's medical chart. Just looking back at recent reports, the guy has dealt with an ankle sprain, a hamstring strain, and a shoulder contusion. Adding a knee problem to the mix makes him sound like a guy who lost a fight with a flight of stairs.

New Orleans has to figure out how to survive Wednesday night against the Jazz before a brutal weekend back-to-back against the Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Clippers. Until the team gives a concrete recovery timeline for this knee, expect the Pelicans to look a lot less dangerous and a lot more desperate.