Murphy and Murray Lead Pelicans to Victory Over Toronto
Mar 11, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III (25) dribbles against Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
The New Orleans Pelicans dominated the Toronto Raptors 122-111 Wednesday night, in a game marked by excellent offensive performances from Trey Murphy III and Dejounte Murray. This victory came during the emotional return of Brandon Ingram to New Orleans, where he played for six seasons.
Murray Returns to Top Offensive Form
Dejounte Murray delivered his best offensive performance since returning from injury, compiling 27 points after being away from the court for over a year due to a torn right Achilles tendon. The Pelicans guard perfectly complemented Trey Murphy III, who scored 28 points with a remarkable 8/12 shooting and 5/8 from 3-point range.
Zion Williamson also contributed to this victory with 19 points, allowing the Pelicans to win seven of their last ten games. This positive momentum puts the New Orleans team in an excellent position for the rest of the season.
DEJOUNTE MURRAY DROPPED HIM AND GOT IN HIS FACE —
That’s cold. 🥶
(h/t @PelsFilmRoom)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 12, 2026
On the Raptors side, Brandon Ingram scored 22 points in his first game in his adopted city since his trade to Toronto last February. The ten-season veteran also crossed the symbolic milestone of 11,000 career points. Immanuel Quickley added 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a sixth loss in eight games.
Decisive 3-Point Superiority
The difference was made from long distance, where both teams made 14 three-pointers each. However, New Orleans displayed remarkable efficiency at 48.3% (14/29), compared to just 31.8% for Toronto (14/44).
Down by two points at halftime (60-58), the Pelicans took control in the third quarter with a lead that reached 18 points. Although Toronto came back to within two points early in the fourth quarter, New Orleans responded with an 8-0 run. Murphy sealed the victory with a 3-pointer at 2:19 remaining, making the score 116-101.
The Pelicans honored Ingram with a tribute video in the first quarter, highlighting his 17.6 points per game average and his first All-Star selection in their colors. This loss drops Toronto from fifth to seventh place in the Eastern Conference, half a game behind Orlando and Miami.
Comments (0)