NBA Top Five Performances, March 12: Trey Murphy III’s Career Performance Helped New Orleans Pelicans Win Against the Portland Trail Blazers

New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III had a career night against Portland Trail Blazers

TOP PLAYERS OF THE DAY:

The New Orleans Pelicans were struggling after losing three of their last four games heading into Sunday night. 

Trey Murphy III had the perfect answer against the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring a career-high 41-point performance on 9 of 14 shooting from 3-point range. Murphy set the franchise record for most points by a player in their first two seasons.

He reflected on the pregame conversation he had with coach Willie Green regarding his progress over the past year.

“He was just telling me, ‘At the end of the day you’re doing really well,’” Murphy said. “You just gotta put it into perspective. He said, ‘This time around last year, you were just getting into the rotation again, and now you’re contributing on a team that’s in playoff contention.’”

OTHERS:

- Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell both had 33-point performances in the New York Knicks’ win against the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers.

- The Denver Nuggets lost to the Brooklyn Nets but Nikola Jokic had his 27th triple-double of the season. Jokic had 35 points, 20 rebounds and 11 assists to nearly lift Denver against the Nets.

- Joel Embiid had 34 points, four blocks, and eight rebounds in the Philadelphia 76ers’ win against the Washington Wizards. Ever since ending the Milwaukee Bucks’ win streak, the Sixers are on a run of their own with five consecutive victories.

- Donovan Mitchell’s big fourth quarter lifted the Cleveland Cavaliers out of a slump against the Charlotte Hornets. Darius Garland led the team in scoring but Mitchell’s 23-point performance, including 10 in the fourth quarter, gave Cleveland the late push Sunday night.

Jayden Armant is a contributor to Inside the Heat. He is a student at Howard University. He can be reached at jayden.armant@bison.howard.edu or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.