Dejounte Murray makes his return to Atlanta on Monday when the New Orleans Pelicans play the Hawks, who have won three straight games for the first time this season.
While Atlanta defeated Charlotte 107-104 on Saturday, New Orleans dropped its eighth straight decision with a 118-85 setback to the New York Knicks on Sunday.
The Hawks won the first of two meetings at New Orleans 126-111 on Nov. 3 behind 29 points and nine rebounds from Jalen Johnson. But Murray didn’t play in the first game while he was sitting out the first 17 games with a fractured left hand.
Murray was obtained by Atlanta and paired with Trae Young with the idea to create a dream backcourt. Although Murray averaged 21.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists over the two seasons with the Hawks, the combination never really worked and the Hawks ended the experiment, opting to stick with Young. Atlanta shipped Murray to New Orleans in the offseason for Larry Nance Jr., Dyson Daniels and two first-round draft picks.
Murray is just one of the injured players who have missed time for the Pelicans, who have been without Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, C.J. McCollum and other significant pieces over the first two months. Williamson has missed the last 12 games with a left hamstring strain. Ingram has sat out the last four games with right calf soreness.
New Orleans also is without Jose Alvarado (left hamstring strain), Jordan Hawkins (lower back soreness) and Herbert Jones (right shoulder strain).
“We’ve got to find our confidence. That’s the biggest thing I saw,” New Orleans coach Willie Green said after Sunday’s loss. “It starts with our confidence, believing when we step on the floor that we have what it takes to compete at the highest level and give ourselves a chance to win.”
Atlanta has at last discovered someone who can coexist with Young. Johnson, the team’s No. 1 draft pick in 2021, has scored in double figures in 17 straight games, the longest streak in his career.
Johnson is averaging 20.1 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists. He had nine assists on Saturday and has shown the knack of lobbing the ball to the big guys on the inside, as well as hitting the open man on the perimeter.
“You can see flashes and things like that,” Young said. “And being around him in practice, you really see flashes a lot. You just never got to see it because he was never healthy.”
Johnson played only 56 games last season, missing extended time with ankle and wrist injuries. In October, he signed a five-year, $150 million contract extension. He has not missed a game this season.
The Hawks are also starting to get contributions from Kobe Bufkin, the No. 1 draft pick from 2023. Bufkin missed the first 14 games with a right shoulder injury and has averaged 13.6 minutes and 5.3 points in the seven games since his return.
Atlanta has also gotten veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic back in the lineup. He missed 13 games with a right hamstring injury suffered on opening night. He did not play Saturday because of load management, but will play Monday. He is averaging 11.6 points, provides another 3-point shooter and can spell Young at point guard if needed.
