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Just as the Trail Blazers appear set to get Jrue Holiday back from the calf injury that's kept him out 27 games, they've been dealt another blow to a rotation player.
On Sunday morning, the team announced that Kris Murray, who has missed the last two games with back soreness, has been diagnosed with a lumbar strain in his lower back. He is out indefinitely.
Murray has started 11 games this season at the guard and forward positions as the Blazers have navigated injuries at different points to regular starters Holiday, Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant. His three-point shot still hasn't come around—he's still below 30 percent from beyond the arc—but his overall scoring efficiency has gone up from this first two seasons and he's proven to be a solid wing defender and rebounder.
Murray's absence will mean even more reliance on two-way wing Sidy Cissoko, as well as continued minutes for Rayan Rupert, who has seen his role increase in recent weeks.
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