Murphy Sets Pelicans’ 3-Point Record in Loss to Heat

The New Orleans Pelicans walked off the floor Sunday night with a piece of franchise history, even if the scoreboard told a far less celebratory story. Trey Murphy III etched his name atop the team’s career 3-point list, passing former teammate CJ McCollum with a seven-triple performance.

It was the type of personal breakthrough that reflected Murphy’s steady rise in his fifth NBA season. Once viewed primarily as a specialist, he has developed into one of the Pelicans’ most reliable two-way contributors, capable of impacting games beyond the arc and across the stat sheet.

Still, milestones tend to feel hollow in defeat, and this one was no different. Miami controlled the final three quarters, exposing New Orleans’ ball-security issues and turning turnovers into a steady stream of points.

By the end of the night, Murphy stood alone atop the Pelicans’ 3-point leaderboard, but the franchise record came with a sobering reminder of where the team currently sits — mired at the bottom of the Western Conference and searching for answers.

1. A Record Written in Threes

Murphy entered the game with 689 career three-pointers, just a few shots shy of tying and surpassing McCollum for the franchise lead. It took him barely one night to make that number obsolete, burying seven from deep to seize the top spot outright. The performance was emblematic of how far he has come since arriving in New Orleans. No longer confined to spot-up looks, Murphy is now comfortable pulling up in transition, attacking closeouts, and carrying offensive possessions when the Pelicans are short-handed. He finished with 27 points, eight rebounds, five assists, a steal, and a block, shooting 10-of-19 from the field and 7-of-15 from beyond the arc. It was a complete line that underscored why he has become a cornerstone of the team’s rotation. For a franchise that has often struggled to establish continuity, Murphy’s ascent offers one of the few clear developmental success stories this season.

2. Competitive Start, Familiar Finish

New Orleans did not look overmatched early. The Pelicans stayed within striking distance through the first quarter, trailing just 43–39 and trading baskets with a Miami team coming off a back-to-back. That competitiveness faded quickly. Over the next three periods, Miami dictated the pace, tightening defensively and capitalizing on New Orleans’ mistakes in the open floor. The turning point came through possession control. Miami recorded 26 combined steals and blocks while committing only 15 turnovers, a stark contrast to the Pelicans’ 26 giveaways and just 16 “stocks.” Each lost possession fed into Miami’s transition attack and widened the gap. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the game’s rhythm had been set. Murphy continued to fire, but the Pelicans never recovered the footing they briefly showed in the opening frame.

3. Sparse Support Behind Murphy

While Murphy led the way, support was uneven. Four Pelicans reached double figures, but none were able to consistently alleviate the pressure placed on him by Miami’s perimeter defenders. Rookie Jeremiah Fears contributed 21 points and three rebounds, showing flashes of shot creation that have intrigued the coaching staff. Derik Queen chipped in 13 points and six boards, while Zion Williamson finished with 12 points and five rebounds in a night where he struggled to impose himself. The collective numbers told a broader story. New Orleans shot reasonably well, but empty possessions erased any efficiency they managed to generate. Turnovers stalled runs, and defensive breakdowns negated Murphy’s best stretches. For a team built around young talent and internal growth, nights like Sunday serve as both a measure of promise and a reminder of the distance still to travel.