Trey Murphy III scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the third quarter and Zion Williamson dominated at times in both halves in finishing with 31 points as the New Orleans Pelicans decisively ended their nine-game losing streak with a 128-107 win over the host Washington Wizards on Friday.
Murphy III, who also had eight rebounds, missed Wednesday’s loss at the Atlanta Hawks due to lower-back spasms. He demonstrated his readiness right away with two 3-pointers in the opening minutes and finished with seven treys overall, helping New Orleans secure its first win since Dec. 22.
This was the second time this season the Pelicans stopped a nine-game losing streak.
Williamson was unstoppable on drives to the hoop and earned several and-1 opportunities, particularly in the first half. He shot 85.7% (12-for-14) from the field.
The Pelicans’ 2025 draft class did its part, as well. Derik Queen, who returned home after starring as a freshman at Maryland last year, registered his second career triple-double. He had 14 points to go with a team-high 16 rebounds and 12 assists.
Jeremiah Fears had 16 of his 21 points in the second half and added six assists. Micah Peavy added nine points off the bench.
The Wizards traded leading scorer CJ McCollum and valuable reserve Corey Kispert to the Atlanta Hawks for four-time All-Star Trae Young on Wednesday. Whether Young, was in street clothes on Washington’s bench on Friday.
Kyshawn George did suit up for Washington. He returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a hip flexor strain and, along with reserve Tristan Vukcevic, led the team with 15 points. Seven Wizards reached double figures, and the team’s bench outscored its starters, 54-53.
Alex Sarr had 14 points, followed by Justin Champagnie with 12 points and nine rebounds. Tre Johnson, who led the team with 20 points in a loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday, had 12 points.
The loss was Washington’s second straight after a run of five wins in seven games, the team’s best stretch of the season to date.
–Field Level Media
