Advertisement

Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray suffers torn ACL

cassandra negley
WNBA and women's college basketball reporter

The San Antonio Spurs are having a rough holiday weekend.

Dejounte Murray, the team’s starting point guard, has a torn right ACL, the team announced Monday. Last week, rookie first-round pick Lonnie Walker IV went down with an injury that was later diagnosed as a torn meniscus.

Murray crashes to court, waves off wheelchair

Murray suffered the knee injury during the second quarter of Sunday’s preseason game against the Houston Rockets, a 108-93 loss. He drove to the basket on a fast break against James Harden and fell to the ground after planting to go to the rim.

Medical staff brought out a wheelchair, but he walked off and headed to the locker room on his own.

Monday’s MRI revealed a torn right ACL. As of early Monday afternoon there is no word yet on a date for surgery.

“He’s our starting PG, and he’s worked hard over the summer to get better, and I think it was showing,” Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge said after Sunday’s game, per ESPN. “You just feel for him because he’s worked so hard to be ready for this season.”

The 22-year-old Murray averaged 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season, his first taking over for Tony Parker. The third-year veteran is who many Spurs staffers privately say is a key on the team’s revamped roster, according to ESPN.

Dejounte Murray’s knee buckled as he drove to the lane against the Houston Rockets’ James Harden in a game Sunday.
Dejounte Murray’s knee buckled as he drove to the lane against the Houston Rockets’ James Harden in a game Sunday.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said Murray “wants to be to the team what Tony was to the team.”

Walker likely out 6 to 8 weeks

Walker injured his knee with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter Friday against the Detroit Pistons. An MRI showed a torn right medial meniscus and ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported he’ll be out six to eight weeks.

Walker was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Spurs announced he would undergo surgery in San Antonio on Monday with team physician Dr. David Schmidt performing the procedure. The timeline by the team for Walker’s return will be announced later.

More from Yahoo Sports:
• What was Cowboys coach thinking on 4th-down decision?
• Kimberley A. Martin: Giants can’t avoid avoid OBJ drama
• Jay Busbee: Freddie Freeman saves Braves from NLDS sweep
• What’s next for McGregor? A suspension, probably.