In a thrilling showdown, the Milwaukee Bucks triumphed over the New Orleans Pelicans, overcoming a remarkable 44-point outing from Trey Murphy III to secure a 141-137 victory in overtime on Wednesday night.
Murphy delivered an outstanding performance, not only scoring a career-high 44 points but also showcasing his shooting prowess by connecting on 12 of 19 attempts from beyond the arc. This impressive feat of hitting 12 three-pointers places him tied for the fifth-highest single-game total in NBA history. The record for the most three-pointers in a game still belongs to Klay Thompson, who made 14 shots from long range while playing for the Golden State Warriors against the Chicago Bulls on October 29, 2018.
Throughout the game, both teams displayed exceptional shooting skills, with a combined total of 45 successful three-point shots out of 93 attempts. The Pelicans achieved an impressive 24 out of 46, while the Bucks were slightly behind at 21 out of 47. Notably, Milwaukee boasted their best shooting percentage of the season at an impressive 60.9% overall.
The turning point of the game came in overtime, where the Bucks quickly established control by scoring the first five points. Ryan Rollins initiated this surge with a driving layup, followed by a crucial three-pointer from Myles Turner. As the clock wound down, the Pelicans found themselves trailing 139-137 when Zion Williamson was called for an offensive foul, negating a potential go-ahead three-pointer from Saddiq Bey with just 6.5 seconds left in overtime.
In the final moments of the game, Milwaukee's Kevin Porter Jr. stepped up and sank two free throws, extending the Bucks' lead with only 5.2 seconds remaining. Porter had a commendable performance, contributing 18 points, along with nine assists and six rebounds, marking his return after missing six games due to an oblique strain.
Additionally, AJ Green added 20 points for Milwaukee, while the Pelicans saw contributions from Bey, who scored 22 points, and Williamson, who added 20 to the scoreboard.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, it appeared that Milwaukee might have taken the lead with a tiebreaking three-pointer from Myles Turner; however, after a replay review, officials determined that Turner's left heel had crossed out of bounds prior to the shot.
This victory marks the second consecutive win for the Bucks, who recently ended a five-game losing streak with a solid 131-115 win against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. Remarkably, this marks just the second time this season the Bucks have achieved back-to-back victories.
Milwaukee continues to play without their two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has been sidelined since January 23 due to a right calf strain. On this particular night, Antetokounmpo, amidst swirling trade rumors, watched the game from the bench as the trade deadline loomed.
Looking ahead, the Pelicans will head to Minnesota for their next game on Friday, while the Bucks are set to host the Indiana Pacers on the same day.
