Dejounte Murray is fit: what it does to the Pelicans
Dejounte Murray says his bruised toe is fine for the Pelicans' opener against the Pacers. Our number was set while he sat out. What changes for the call.
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Dejounte Murray will play in the Pelicans' opener against the Indiana Pacers, going by his own words on Monday: CBS Sports reports he said he will be fine for Wednesday, and NBC Sports says he has been practising in full. Our Desk number for the game was set on 17 October, while Murray was still missing preseason games with a bruised toe, and it has not changed. His return makes New Orleans a little stronger, which points the same way as our call.
Our number, and when it was set
| Outcome | Our chance | Fair price | Best price this morning | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelicans | 59.1% | 1.69 | 2.36, 1xBet | +16.7 pts |
| Pacers | 40.9% | 2.44 |
The card was published at 05:24 UTC on 17 October. The best price on New Orleans was 2.44 when we wrote our Pelicans v Pacers preview and 2.36 at 04:55 UTC this morning. That is a small move, and we cannot pin it on Murray.
What changes, and what does not
- The starting point guard is back. NBC Sports says Murray returns to his usual starting role, with Jeremiah Fears behind him. TheDraftDay's log has him out of three preseason games in October before being cleared.
- The Pacers' list is unchanged. ESPN still has Johnny Furphy out with a knee injury and Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker and T.J. McConnell as game-time decisions.
- The market still has Indiana as favourites. At 2.36 the bookmaker gives New Orleans about 42%. ESPN's own predictor has the Pacers at 63%. So we are not just a little more positive than the market: we pick a different winner.
A guard coming back from a bruised toe is not the same as a star coming back from a long absence. He may be eased in, and opening-night minutes are hard to call for anybody. We would not move our number much for this, and the call already sits on the Pelicans.
What this does not tell you
It does not tell you the Pelicans will win; on our own numbers they lose about four times in ten. Injury news can still change before tip-off at 00:10 UTC on Thursday (8 pm ET on Wednesday). For the Pacers' side of the same game, see what Haliburton's return does to the Pacers.
18+. Bet only what you can afford to lose.
Common questions
Is Dejounte Murray playing against the Pacers?
He is expected to. CBS Sports, citing the Pelicans' official site, reports Murray said on Monday 19 October that he will be fine for Wednesday's opener, and NBC Sports says he has been a full participant in practice.
What was Dejounte Murray's injury?
A bruised toe late in preseason. TheDraftDay's log shows him missing preseason games on 8, 14 and 16 October before being cleared on 19 October.
Does Murray's return change BAI8's Pelicans v Pacers call?
Our chance was set on 17 October, while Murray was still sitting out, and has not been updated. His return makes New Orleans a little stronger, which points the same way as our call on the Pelicans.
What is BAI8's Pelicans v Pacers prediction?
Pelicans 59.1%, Pacers 40.9%. The best price on New Orleans this morning was 2.36 at 1xBet, a 16.7 point edge. It is an estimate, not a promise.