Trey Murphy III scored 35 points and Zion Williamson added 31 as the New Orleans Pelicans snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 128-107 victory over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on Friday.
Derik Queen recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking career highs in rebounds and assists for the rookie.
New Orleans led 60-50 at halftime and extended the margin to 21 points in the third quarter. A 21-5 run in the fourth sealed the blowout after Washington briefly cut the deficit to 10.
Jeremiah Fears added 21 points for the Pelicans, who shot 53% from the field and outscored the Wizards 68-46 in the paint. Murphy and Williamson combined to make 25 of 38 shots, showcasing efficiency inside and outside.
Washington was led by Kyshawn George and Tristan Vukcevic, who each scored 15 points, while Alex Sarr had 14 points but grabbed just one rebound. Seven Wizards players reached double figures, but the team struggled to match the Pelicans’ interior presence and efficiency.
Newly acquired Trae Young was on the bench due to quadriceps and knee issues but received an ovation from the crowd during his first introduction with the Wizards. Queen’s impact extended beyond the triple-double, as his 16 rebounds fueled second-chance opportunities and his 12 assists orchestrated New Orleans’ offense.
The win improved New Orleans to 9-31 and snapped a nine-game losing streak, giving the Pelicans momentum ahead of Sunday’s game at Orlando. Washington fell to 10-37 and will travel to face Phoenix on Sunday night, remaining near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
