San Antonio Spurs announces Dejounte Murray has torn right anterior cruciate ligament

San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray has a torn right anterior cruciate ligament, the team announced Monday.

Murray underwent an MRI exam Monday morning that confirmed the injury. The team did not announce any plans for surgery for Murray and said a timetable for his return would be announced later.

His loss is a huge blow for the rebuilding Spurs, who were counting on Murray, 22, to run the offence. Last year, Murray averaged 8.1 points, 2.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 81 games.

He also was the youngest player ever to make an NBA All-Defensive team with his second-team selection.

The injury occurred at the 2:47 mark of the second quarter Sunday of the Spurs-Houston Rockets preseason game. As he was driving to the basket on a fast break, Murray went down and hit the floor, face down, as he put up a shot. After team personnel rushed to assist him, the medical staff brought out a wheelchair. But Murray was able to walk off the court under his own power.

On Saturday, the team announced that rookie guard Lonnie Walker IV would have surgery Monday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

More burden for the Spurs now will fall on DeMar DeRozan, the guard acquired by Spurs in the trade that sent disgruntled Kawhi Leonard to Toronto in the offseason.

DeRozan spoke to the media on Sunday after the game, before the extent of Murray's injury was known.

"You definitely never want to see one of your teammates go down," he said. "A feeling of concern, worry. You know all you can do is hope for the best and hope it's not as bad as it looked."