Bucks Withstand Trey Murphy’s Historic 44-Point Night to Edge Pelicans in Overtime

The Milwaukee Bucks escaped a historical offensive barrage on Wednesday night, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 141-137 in an overtime thriller that saw records fall and stars emerge. The story of the night was Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, who delivered a career-defining performance by scoring 44 points and draining a franchise-record 12 three-pointers. Murphy's 12 triples tied him with Stephen Curry for the most in a single game this season and placed him among only eight players in NBA history to achieve the feat. Despite his heroics, the Bucks used a balanced attack and clutch overtime execution to secure the win.

The Bucks were led by a breakout performance from Ryan Rollins, who scored 27 points and orchestrated the offense in the absence of veteran starters. Milwaukee also saw a significant contribution from Myles Turner, whose three-pointer in the opening minutes of overtime helped the Bucks seize control. In his return from an oblique strain, Kevin Porter Jr. added 18 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, hitting two critical free throws with five seconds remaining to ice the game. The Bucks' efficiency was the deciding factor, as they shot a season-best 60.9% from the field as a team.

For New Orleans, the loss was a heartbreaking end to one of the most prolific individual shooting displays in recent memory. Trey Murphy III was unconscious from beyond the arc, shooting 12-of-19 and scoring eight of those threes in the second half alone. Zion Williamson added 20 points, but his night ended on a sour note after a controversial offensive foul call in the final seconds of overtime wiped away a potential go-ahead bucket from Saddiq Bey. The Pelicans' defense, described by interim coach James Borrego as "too soft" at the point of attack, ultimately failed to prevent Milwaukee's rim pressure late in the game.

The matchup highlighted the contrasting styles of both teams heading into the trade deadline. The Bucks have leaned into a high-octane offense featuring AJ Green (20 points) and Rollins, while the Pelicans continue to search for defensive consistency around their offensive pillars. New Orleans fell to 1-4 in overtime games this season, a statistic that underscores their struggles in high-pressure closing situations. With the trade deadline looming on Thursday, both front offices are rumored to be active in seeking roster upgrades to bolster their playoff seeding.

Milwaukee’s victory keeps them in the hunt for a top-four seed in the East, while the Pelicans drop a pivotal road game as they head to Minnesota for their final contest before the All-Star break. The Pelicans will need to find a way to capitalize on Murphy’s burgeoning stardom if they hope to climb the Western Conference standings in the second half of the season.