The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Toronto Raptors 122-111 on Wednesday night.
Trey Murphy III led the Pelicans with 28 points, while Dejounte Murray contributed 27. Brandon Ingram, playing his first game back in New Orleans since being traded to Toronto, finished with 22 points.
Murray’s Strong Return and Ingram’s Milestone
Dejounte Murray had his highest-scoring game since returning from a torn right Achilles tendon. His injury sidelined him for more than a year. Zion Williamson added 19 points for the Pelicans, who have won seven of 10.
Ingram, a 10-year veteran, also surpassed 11,000 points for his career during the game.
Game Summary: Pelicans Dominate the Three-Point Line
The Pelicans led 60-58 at halftime. They expanded their lead to 18 points in the third quarter.
The Raptors narrowed the gap to two points early in the fourth. New Orleans responded with an 8-0 run. Toronto never got closer than six points the rest of the way.
Murphy sealed the victory with a 3-pointer with 2:19 remaining, giving the Pelicans a 116-101 lead.
- Murphy shot 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 8 from 3-point range.
- Both teams made 14 3-pointers.
- New Orleans shot 48.3% from three, while Toronto shot 31.8%.
Tribute to Ingram
During the first quarter, the Pelicans played a video tribute to Ingram. During his time in New Orleans, Ingram averaged 17.6 points and made his first All-Star Game.
Raptors’ Struggles and Upcoming Games
Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points for Toronto. The Raptors have lost six of their last eight games.
This defeat dropped the Raptors from fifth to seventh in the Eastern Conference. They now sit one-half game behind Orlando and Miami.
Toronto will host Phoenix on Friday. The Pelicans will visit Houston on Friday.