Pelicans down woeful Wizards to match season win total from 2025
Trey Murphy III knocked down four of nine 3-pointers on the way to 24 points, Saddiq Bey recorded a 23-point, 10-rebound double-double, and the New Orleans Pelicans routed the visiting Washington Wizards 138-118 on Sunday.
Murphy fueled a pivotal, 12-0 New Orleans run in the fourth quarter with a pair of 3-pointers. The stretch broke the game open, giving the Pelicans a 22-point advantage.
Murphy was one of five Pelicans scoring at least 18 points, a quintet that included Jeremiah Fears with 18 points. Fears powered another key New Orleans run to close the third quarter, scoring on a pair of layups -- one and an and-one -- and dishing assists to Derik Queen and Bryce McGowens.
Fears contributing to every point in the surge led New Orleans into the final period with an advantage that did not dip below eight points for the rest of the way. He also dished a team-high seven assists to go with his five rebounds.
Zion Williamson scored 20 points in the win -- the Pelicans' 21st of the season to match their 2024-25 total -- with eight coming on 11 free-throw attempts. His team-high at the charity stripe paced New Orleans to a Pelicans-record 37 points scored at the free-throw line.
Dejounte Murray added 19 points -- with seven coming on nine foul-shot attempts -- and six rebounds. Queen rounded out New Orleans' double-figure-point scorers with 13 points.
Playing his second game for a Washington team that slipped to its eighth consecutive loss, Trae Young scored 17 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and dished a game-high eight assists.
Young was limited to 18 minutes, as the Wizards bench saw extensive minutes resulting in 59 reserve points. Will Riley led the bench corps with 19 points, one off of starter Tre Johnson's team-high 20. Anthony Gill shot 5 of 7 from the floor for 11 points, and Jaden Hardy added 10 points.
Sunday's contest marked the beginning of a four-game road swing for the Wizards.