ATLANTA — Trey Murphy III had 28 points off the bench to help the New Orleans Pelicans complete a perfect three-game road trip with a 116-103 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.
Zion Williamson had 27 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Pelicans, who have won four straight overall and ended the Hawks’ three-game winning streak.
Murphy was 6 of 13 from 3-point range and also pulled down seven rebounds. Brandon Ingram had 10 assists and seven points, and CJ McCollum finished with 20 points for the Pelicans, who shot 52 percent from 3-point range and 57 percent from the floor.
“When he keeps it simple, like he did, simplicity can be spectacular,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said of Murphy. “Trey’s shooting has been off the charts the last five to seven games.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic led the Hawks with 25 points. Dejounte Murray finished with 23 points and 11 assists in one game after tying a career high with 41 points.
The Hawks, already led by two starters, Trae Young and Jalen Johnson, lost Saddiq Bey to a left knee injury with 10:41 remaining.
Bey slid to the floor in pain after stopping short and being fouled. Bey stayed in and made one of two free throws, then was pulled and walked to the locker room with a slight limp. He beat the third quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer and finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
The Hawks had no immediate update on his condition after the game.
The Pelicans had at least a 20-point lead at halftime in each of their last three games and held an 11-point advantage Sunday after holding the Hawks to 32 percent shooting. Murray missed his first eight shots after being hounded primarily by Herb Jones, who blocked two Murray shots in the first quarter.
“Herb Jones is amazing,” Green said. “Dejounte Murray is a hell of a player, an All-Star caliber player. He’s doing a little bit of everything for this team right now. Herb made it extremely difficult for him throughout the match. Incredible defense.
Murray also acknowledged Jones’ efforts to shut down the Hawks’ primary playmaker with Young out.
“Herb Jones is a first-team All-Defensive guy,” Murray said. “I like the way he competes.”
The Pelicans led by at least 10 for the entire fourth quarter.
Williamson had an eventful first half, with a flying shot blocked on a layup attempt by Vit Krejci, a quick alley-oop dunk by Naji Marshall and an assist by Murphy.
“(Williamson) rebounds, he takes off in transition, he scores in multiple ways,” Green said. “And then he handles the ball and makes plays for his teammates. When he plays dominant like he is, we’re hard to stop.
The Hawks, who remain in 10th place and last place in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament, fell to 6-3 since losing Young to a wrist injury.
FOLLOWING
Pelicans: Host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday to begin a three-game homestand.
Hawks: Begin a four-game road trip against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
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