The New Orleans Pelicans started off like a team that was tired after a season-long six-game road trip.
But they revived quickly enough and went on to easily defeat the Washington Wizards 138-118 on Sunday night in the Smoothie King Center.
Trey Murphy scored 24 points to lead six Pelicans in double figures. Saddiq Bey had 23 points and 10 rebounds; Zion Williamson scored 20; Dejounte Murray scored 19, his most in the six games he has played since returning from a one-year absence due to Achilles surgery; and rookie rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen scored 18 and 13, respectively.
The Pelicans (21-45), who went 3-3 on the road trip, matched their win total from last season while playing their first home game in 12 days. They’ll play the Toronto Raptors at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Smoothie King Center.
Tre Johnson scored 20 points; Will Riley had 19; Trae Young chipped in 17; Anthony Gill added 12; and Leaky Black and Jaden Hardy had 10 each to lead the Wizards (16-47), who lost their eighth straight. Washington was swept in the season series after New Orleans won 128-107 on Jan. 9 in Washington, D.C.
The Pelicans expanded their two-point halftime lead to 89-77 midway through the third quarter. The Wizards closed within seven points, but Fears had a three-point play, a layup and assisted on a 3-pointer by Queen and a layup by Bryce McGowens as New Orleans increased the lead to 102-93 at the end of the period.
Fears’ 3-pointer pushed the lead to 12 points early in the fourth quarter, and moments later Murphy made consecutive 3-pointers to stretch the lead to 115-99.
The score was tied three times, and the fifth lead change of the first quarter came when Bub Carrington’s 3-pointer edged the Wizards in front 26-25. Four of his teammates scored as they increased the lead to 35-32 at the end of the period.
Washington increased the lead to eight points early in the second quarter before New Orleans scored eight straight to tie. The Wizards scored the next five points, but Murray scored five points during a 12-0 run that gave the Pelicans a 54-47 lead.
The lead was reduced to one point before New Orleans held a 67-65 halftime edge. The Pelicans set an NBA high for free throws attempted and free throws made in any half this season by making 27 of 36 in the first half. They finished 37 of 47 at the line.