New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) flies over Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter (34) as Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas (17) looks on during the first half of a basketball game NBA ball in Toronto on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO — Trey Murphy III scored a season-high 34 points and the New Orleans Pelicans handed the short-handed Raptors the worst home loss in franchise history by beating Toronto 139-98 on Tuesday evening.
Jonas Valanciunas had 10 points and 10 rebounds against his former team. Murphy tied a career high by making 10 of 14 3-point attempts. the pelicans handed the Raptors their biggest loss of the season, eclipsing the 38-point drubbing they handed out to Toronto in New Orleans last month.
“Trey has been fantastic,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “When he shoots the ball like that, we’re a tough team to beat.”
another ???? pic.twitter.com/qCQzWDtm92
– New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 6, 2024
The Pelicans’ largest lead was 43 points, and they made 24 of 49 3-pointers. New Orleans set a franchise record with 25 made 3s in a Jan. 17 win over Charlotte.
Herb Jones scored 17 points, Zion Williamson had 16 and Brandon Ingram had 12. New Orleans has won three of four.
“I like the fact that we had 27 fast break points,” Green said. “We shot the 3-ball well. Collectively, as a team, it was a dominant performance, wire to wire.
Herb Jones. 17 points on 7(!!) shots. pic.twitter.com/mzlmf4sNno
– New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 6, 2024
Ingram made a career-high eight 3-pointers when the Pelicans routed the Raptors 138-100 on February 5. He went 0-for-1 from long range on Tuesday.
Williamson narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with nine assists and eight rebounds in his professional debut north of the border. Williamson was at Duke, playing alongside Toronto’s RJ Barrett, when he last played in Toronto on an exhibition tour in the summer of 2018.
“Since I met RJ, he’s my brother for life,” Williamson said. “Being able to compete against him tonight, especially where he grew up, was awesome. I have bragging rights because I can say we won.
Toronto’s worst home loss was a 126-86 loss to Orlando on March 29, 1996, near the end of the Raptors’ expansion season.
Immanuel Quickley scored 17 points for the Raptors, who played without All-Star Scottie Barnes and center Jakob Poeltl.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? WHERE DID HE GO pic.twitter.com/5v3R2rdGtD
– New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 6, 2024
Barnes is out indefinitely after breaking his left hand in last Friday’s home loss to Golden State. Before the match, coach Darko Rajakovic said it was too early to say whether Barnes would be able to return before the end of the season. The Raptors announced Monday evening that Barnes underwent surgery in Los Angeles.
After the game, the Raptors said Poeltl underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ligament in his left pinky finger, the injury that forced him out of Sunday’s win over Charlotte.
Raptors guard Bruce Brown was out for the second straight game with right knee soreness. Toronto guard Ochai Agbaji made his second straight start, but was knocked out in the third quarter with left knee soreness.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 16 points for Toronto. Barrett and Kelly Olynyk each had 15.
Trailing 19-14 early, New Orleans responded with a 12-2 score and led 42-28 after one quarter.
“We were doing our best to stay in front of Zion and protect the paint and they caught fire,” Rajakovic said.
Ingram opened the second by escaping Toronto’s Jordan Nwora with a crossover and driving for a one-handed slam.
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Williamson punctuated the half by picking off Raptors rookie Gradey Dick near midcourt in the final minute and pulling away for a powerful dunk. New Orleans led 68-45 at the break and took a 106-76 lead into the fourth.
Toronto signed guard Jahmi’us Ramsey to a 10-day contract on Tuesday. Ramsey made his Raptors debut in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter.
NEXT SCHEDULE
Pelicans: Visit the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night.
Raptors: Visit the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night.
