NBA: Pelicans extend recent surge, keep Raptors reeling

Dejounte Murray scored a season-high 27 points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 122-111 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors, marking New Orleans’ seventh win in their last 10 games.

The win came against former Pelicans star Brandon Ingram, who was making his first appearance in New Orleans this season after spending six years with the team. Ingram finished with 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting. Immanuel Quickley had 25 points for Toronto, which remains in the playoff hunt in the Eastern Conference but has lost four of its last five games.

Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with a game-high 28 points, while Zion Williamson added 19, including a highlight-reel windmill dunk with 4:11 left that effectively sealed the win.

After a back-and-forth first half that featured seven ties and eight lead changes, New Orleans took a 60-58 lead into halftime. Toronto struggled in the third quarter, going more than three minutes without a point, allowing the Pelicans to extend their lead to 77-65 on a three-pointer by Herb Jones and a pair of baskets by Murray. The lead peaked at 18 after another Jones three with 3:54 left in the third.

Toronto mounted a late push, closing the gap to 95-93 following a three-pointer by Jamison Battle with 10:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, New Orleans quickly regained control. Williamson sparked a 7-0 run with a free throw to make it 103-93. Later, after a block by Yves Messi, Williamson finished a three-on-none fast break with a windmill dunk, thrilling the crowd and putting New Orleans up 113-99.

Murray added a three-pointer with 1:25 left after faking out Jamal Shead, prompting a brief on-court confrontation and earning a technical foul for a hostile act with his team ahead 119-101.

This game marked just Murray’s seventh appearance this season following his Achilles injury last year.

—Field Level Media/Reuters