Trey Murphy III scores 34 points as Pelicans rally past Nets
Trey Murphy III had a game-high 34 points and Saddiq Bey made a pair of big plays in the final minute to lift the New Orleans Pelicans past the visiting Brooklyn Nets 116-113 Wednesday night.
It was just the second win for the Pelicans since Christmas. Brooklyn has now lost five games in a row and eight of its last nine.
Michael Porter Jr. had 20 points for the Nets, but missed a long three at the buzzer that could have tied it. Five other Nets scored in double figures, including rookie point guard Egor Demin, who made five threes and finished with 17.
Zion Williamson scored 25 points for the Pelicans, including 14 in the third quarter to keep the Pelicans close. Yves Missi had 12 points and 12 boards for New Orleans.
A reverse lay-up by Murphy tied the score at 107 with 1:47 left in the fourth. Demin answered with a three from the wing to put Brooklyn on top. After a missed shot by New Orleans, the ball bounced out long to Bey, who forced up a long three that hit nothing but net.
Demin would miss a jumper for Brooklyn next time down. Murphy tried a long three that was off the mark for New Orleans, but Bey was again in the right place at the right time and slammed home the rebound for a 112-110 lead with 21.1 seconds left.
Brooklyn called a timeout and worked the ball around to Porter Jr. who launched a three that kicked off the back iron. Murphy III collected the rebound while falling out of bounds with 10.6 seconds left. Nets center Nic Claxton was whistled for a foul on pMurphy. Brooklyn called a timeout to challenge the call, but it was upheld by the officials, who also ruled that Murphy had stayed inbounds.
Murphy made both subsequent free throws, but Drake Powell would race down the floor and drain a three for Brooklyn with five seconds remaining to pull the Nets within one at 114-113. Bey was fouled and made two free throws for New Orleans with 4.1 seconds to go.
A long pass into the front court by Brooklyn was knocked away by Pelicans center Karlo Matkovic, but wound up in the hands of Porter Jr., who launched a shot inside the halfcourt arc that missed at the buzzer.
Brooklyn led by as many as 12 points in the first half before New Orleans rallied to trail 55-54 at halftime.