The last time the New Orleans Pelicans won a game in Milwaukee, Trey Murphy was a senior in high school.
Not even the best night of Murphy’s NBA career was enough to end the Pelicans’ woes in Milwaukee.
Murphy scored a career-high 44 points and also had a career-high in 3-pointers (12), but the Pelicans once again couldn’t finish and fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 141-37 in overtime at the Fiserv Forum.
“Great game by Murph,” said Pelicans’ interim head coach James Borrego. “You see how far he’s come. He’s really excelled this year. He’s made massive steps. Tonight was another indication of that.”
Murphy’s dozen 3-pointers in the game set a franchise record previously held by CJ McCollum, who made 11 3-pointers against the Philadelphia 76ers in December of 2022. Murphy's 12 3-pointers tied Golden State’s Steph Curry for the most treys in a game this season. The NBA record for 3's in a game is 14, held by Klay Thompson.
Murphy shot 12-of-19 on 3-pointers. He also finished with six rebounds and six assists.
“His shot making, playmaking, his defense, the boards, I’m really proud of his effort overall,” Borrego said. “He was huge tonight.”
But it still wasn’t enough.
The Pelicans have now lost eight straight games in Milwaukee. Their last win in Milwaukee was in February of 2018.
The Pelicans (13-40) led for most of the game. But like so many times this season, they were unable to close the game out. The Pels led 70-63 at halftime and 104-99 at the end of the third. The Pelicans didn’t trail in the game until Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins hit a 3-pointer with 9:51 left to put the Bucks ahead 107-104.
“It was our defense, not enough resistance,” Borrego said. “They went on an 18-2 (run). They hit a tough 3 to end the third quarter and then it was just a blitz the first four minutes of that (fourth) quarter. We had no resistance at the rim. They got downhill at will. Point of attack defense was just too weak, too soft. Defensively, we’ve got to be better. That was not our finest performance.”
The Bucks (20-29) were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They won despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain) and Bobby Portis (right hip contusion).
Saddiq Bey finished with 22 points and Zion Williamson had 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds. The Pels made 24 of 48 3-pointers (52%) and had just eight turnovers. But seven of those eight came in the second half and overtime. They had their chances late in regulation. Jose Alvarado’s 3-pointer from the corner near the end of regulation wouldn’t fall. Murphy was unable to finish at the basket as time expired after mishandling a pass. And Williamson had a costly turnover with 6.5 seconds left in overtime when the Pels had a chance to tie the game.
“I’m proud of the guys in that we battled,” Borrego said. “We’re going to be in a clutch game night after night. That’s all you can do. Keep putting yourselves in that position. Our defense was not there tonight.”
The game was the final one before Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. The Pels' roster could be different Friday when they finish their 4-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Borrego’s message to his team through all the uncertainty that comes with the trade deadline approaching?
“Just do your job,” Borrego said. “Try to keep it as simple as possible. Don’t overthink it. It’s out there probably more so now than ever with social media. ... Business as usual. Understand that they are human beings. Our goal is to just do our job and move on from there."