It's been a rough few days to be a Pelicans rookie, with the latest injury befalling second-round pick EJ Liddell during a 101-83 Summer League victory over the Hawks.
The former Ohio State standout went down in a heap twice in the game, the first time returning to the game after what appeared to be an ankle injury. But he would not return after a scary fall and what Summer League coach Jarron Collins referred to as a a right knee sprain.
"You never want to see anyone get injured out there, but we'll have more information for you guys tomorrow and we'll go from there," Collins said.
The rookie forward was helped off the floor after the injury and is scheduled to get an MRI Tuesday morning.
Liddell played just shy of 13 minutes in the game and scored 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting with 4 rebounds and 2 assists. He joins fellow rookie Dyson Daniels as likely injury scratches for the remainder of the Summer League slate, with the No. 8 overall pick going down with an ankle injury early in the opening loss to the Trail Blazers.
The Pelicans' other member of the rookie draft class, Karlo Matkovic, was already inactive for the game. The second-round pick cut his right hand on the rim during Saturday's opener and received stitches.
This time around the result swung the Pelicans' way, however, with a dominant outing from second-year wing Trey Murphy, who poured in 30 points on 10-of-18 shooting, along with 6 rebounds, an assist, steal and a block. Daeqwon Plowden added 16 points, while Jared Harper netted 14 points to go with 7 assists.
"When you play like that it can look easy the way that he was playing," Collins said. "He let the game come to him."
Collins indicated that Monday's game would be the final Summer League outing for Murphy and Naji Marshall (9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists) not expected to see action the rest of the way.
The Summer League Pelicans are back in action on Wednesday with a matchup against the Washington Wizards.
