Trey Murphy III scores 31 points, Pelicans beat Knicks 113-105

NEW ORLEANS(AP) — Trey Murphy III scored 31 points, C.J. McCollum added 23 andthe New Orleans Pelicans improved their chances of avoiding theplay-in round with a 113-105 victory over the New York Knicks onFriday night.

The Pelicans(42-39) will need to beat Minnesota on the road in theirregular-season finale Sunday and get some help from somecombination of Golden State and the Los Angeles Lakers and theClippers to climb higher than the seventh seed. They also willfinish above .500 for the first time since 2017-18.

“It’s atremendous blessing to have a winning record,” Pelicans coachWillie Green said. “It’s hard to win in the NBA.”

The Knicks,locked into the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, werewithout leading scorer Julius Randle (ankle injury), second-leadingscorer Jalen Brunson (right hand) and center Mitchell Robinson(rest). The game began inauspiciously when Herb Jones blocked RJBarrett’s 3-point shot and Immanuel Quickley threw a wild pass intothe seats on their first two possessions, but they hung arounduntil the final two minutes.

Trailing100-99, New Orleans went ahead for good on Jones’ drive for alay-up and took a 106-100 lead on McCollum’s 3-pointer with 3:22left. After the Knicks closed to 106-103, Brandon Ingram lobbedone-handed to Jones in the corner for another 3 with 1:40 left.

“He (Ingram)makes some nice passes and that one was crazy,” McCollum said.“He’s smart and knows how to read the defense.”

Murphy, whohad hit at least six 3s every time he scored 30 points or more inhis two-year career, had 20 points in the first half despitesinking only one from long distance. He finished 3 for 10 on3s.

“We’rewatching Trey grow up right in front of us,” Green said. “He’shaving a better understanding that when teams close out on him,it’s a quick decision for him getting to the basket and finishing,drawing fouls or kicking it out to teammates.”

Barrett ledNew York with 28 points. Quickley added 24, hitting six 3s, but theKnicks did not get enough stops, allowing the Pelicans to shoot53.2 percent. Jones finished 7 of 7.

“I like theeffort, I didn’t like our defense,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeausaid. “We did a very good job offensively, creating open shots andwe missed some really good shots. We were in a position all the wayto the end. We didn’t do enough things to win but we put ourselvesin a position to win and fell short.”

TIP-INS

Knicks: ObiToppin started for only the fourth time this season, with IsaiahHartenstein getting his eighth start. New York’s five-game winningstreak ended.

Pelicans: NewOrleans executive vice president David Griffin said Friday at theshootaround that Zion Williamson would not return at the earliestuntil a first-round playoff series, missing the last game of theregular season and any play-in games. Williamson has been out witha hamstring injury since Jan. 2. … New Orleans finished 27-14 athome, its best home record since 2014-15 when it went 28-13.

UPNEXT

Knicks: HostIndiana on Sunday to finish the regular season.

Pelicans: AtMinnesota on Sunday to close the regular season.