The last time the New Orleans Pelicans won a game in Milwaukee, Trey Murphy was a senior in high school.<\/p>\n
Not even the best night of Murphy\u2019s NBA career was enough to end the Pelicans\u2019 woes in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
Murphy scored a career-high 44 points and also had a career-high in 3-pointers (12), but the Pelicans once again couldn\u2019t finish and fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 141-37 in overtime at the Fiserv Forum.<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat game by Murph,\u201d said Pelicans\u2019 interim head coach James Borrego. \u201cYou see how far he\u2019s come. He\u2019s really excelled this year. He\u2019s made massive steps. Tonight was another indication of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Murphy\u2019s dozen 3-pointers in the game set a franchise record previously held by CJ McCollum, who made 11 3-pointers against the Philadelphia 76ers in December of 2022. Murphy’s 12 3-pointers tied Golden State\u2019s Steph Curry for the most treys in a game this season. The NBA record for 3’s in a game is 14, held by Klay Thompson.<\/p>\n
Murphy shot 12-of-19 on 3-pointers. He also finished with six rebounds and six assists.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis shot making, playmaking, his defense, the boards, I\u2019m really proud of his effort overall,\u201d Borrego said. \u201cHe was huge tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
But it still wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n
The Pelicans have now lost eight straight games in Milwaukee. Their last win in Milwaukee was in February of 2018.<\/p>\n
The Pelicans (13-40) led for most of the game. But like so many times this season, they were unable to close the game out. The Pels led 70-63 at halftime and 104-99 at the end of the third. The Pelicans didn\u2019t trail in the game until Milwaukee\u2019s Ryan Rollins hit a 3-pointer with 9:51 left to put the Bucks ahead 107-104.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was our defense, not enough resistance,\u201d Borrego said. \u201cThey went on an 18-2 (run). They hit a tough 3 to end the third quarter and then it was just a blitz the first four minutes of that (fourth) quarter. We had no resistance at the rim. They got downhill at will. Point of attack defense was just too weak, too soft. Defensively, we\u2019ve got to be better. That was not our finest performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bucks (20-29) were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They won despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain) and Bobby Portis (right hip contusion).<\/p>\n
Saddiq Bey finished with 22 points and Zion Williamson had 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds. The Pels made 24 of 48 3-pointers (52%) and had just eight turnovers. But seven of those eight came in the second half and overtime. They had their chances late in regulation. Jose Alvarado\u2019s 3-pointer from the corner near the end of regulation wouldn\u2019t fall. Murphy was unable to finish at the basket as time expired after mishandling a pass. And Williamson had a costly turnover with 6.5 seconds left in overtime when the Pels had a chance to tie the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of the guys in that we battled,\u201d Borrego said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to be in a clutch game night after night. That\u2019s all you can do. Keep putting yourselves in that position. Our defense was not there tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n