The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Toronto Raptors 122-111 at the Smoothie King Center on Wednesday night in former Pelican Brandon Ingram’s return to the Big Easy.
BI was second on the Raptors (36-29) in points with 22 on the night as teammate Immanuel Quickley led the way for the visitors, scoring 25.
Ingram was traded to Toronto last year in the middle of his sixth season in New Orleans. He was beloved by Pelicans fans during his time in NOLA and was the NBA’s Most Improved Player during his first season with the franchise in 2020, along with being named a first-time All-Star.
Ingram was named an All-Star this season for the Raptors as a replacement for the injured Stephen Curry.
For the Pelicans, Dejounte Murray produced 27 points in just his seventh game back from an Achilles injury (by far his best outing since his return) that cost him a year of playing time and ignited the home crowd following an ankle breaker into a stepback three on a helpless Jamal Shead with 1:25 to play that put the contest on ice.
Murray had a few choice words for the Toronto guard and stood over him after making the shot, drawing a technical foul call from the officials. With the former All-Star (Atlanta Hawks in 2022) back in the starting lineup, the Pelicans look to be a much different side.
Zion Williamson added 19 points while Trey Murphy III led the team with 28 points. Herb Jones rounded out Pelicans players in double figures with 16 points.
New Orleans is 7-4 in its last 11 games since the All-Star break and sat at 22-45 on the season before traveling to Houston to face the Rockets (40-25) Friday night.