Breaking: Bucks outlast Pelicans 141-137 in an overtime classic, a furious, high-skill fight that swung on every trip. The finish was wild and tense. Trey Murphy III poured in 44 points and kept New Orleans alive with fearless shot making. Milwaukee answered with poise, control, and just enough steel in the final minutes to walk out with the win.
Final: Bucks 141, Pelicans 137 in overtime. Combined 278 points in a frantic, high-scoring showcase.
How Milwaukee closed the door
This was composure on display. The Bucks slowed the pace when it mattered. They got into their sets, ran clean actions, and valued each touch. The ball moved from strong side to weak side. They hunted the best matchup without rushing. That is veteran basketball.
In crunch time and in overtime, Milwaukee’s defense finally bent possessions in its favor. They shaded help toward Murphy, who had the hot hand all night. On-ball pressure forced the Pelicans to start higher and later in the clock. That sapped rhythm. It turned quick-hitting drives into contested pull-ups. It did not erase Murphy’s night, but it redirected New Orleans at the edges.
The small moments decided it. A strong defensive rebound that finished a long scramble. A sharp slip screen that forced rotation, which opened a corner three. A two-for-one that bought an extra trip. Free throws that landed soft and true. The Bucks were not perfect, but they were purposeful.
The clutch sequence feel
You could feel the temperature rise with every possession. Here is how Milwaukee kept its hands steady:
- They managed the clock, never panicked, and found shots late in the clock.
- They showed Murphy extra bodies, then recovered to shooters.
- They attacked the paint, drew contact, and cashed free throws.
- They secured the key rebound after the biggest miss.
Trey Murphy III’s star turn
Murphy was electric. He sprinted off pin downs, lifted above closeouts, and buried jumpers with no shake in his wrist. When defenders overplayed his catch, he cut backdoor. When they played drop, he rose into space. His confidence never dipped, even as the Bucks tightened the screws.
At 44 points, he carried the Pelicans for long stretches. It was not empty scoring. He kept the floor spread and opened lanes for teammates. He punished any lapse. He forced the Bucks to adjust their coverage and their matchups. That is the mark of a rising force, a wing who bends games.
New Orleans will not love the result, but they will love what it says about Murphy. He is more than a shooter now. He is a scorer who shapes game plans. That matters in April, when half-court answers rule the night.
Trey Murphy III finished with 44 points, a career-highlight night of tough makes and confident movement.
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What this says about both teams
For the Bucks, this was a clean read on playoff habits. They handled chaos without forcing bad shots. They trusted spacing, screening angles, and late-clock poise. They won contested rebounds and closed with free throws. If they keep that calm, their late-game profile is strong. You need that to survive spring basketball.
Their defense was not perfect. Giving up 137 tells that story. But the shifts in coverage were timely. Milwaukee took away New Orleans’ first option more often as the game tightened. In overtime, that was the difference. Multiple bodies to the hot hand, smart closeouts, no bailout fouls, then finish the play.
For the Pelicans, there is pride and a lesson. The pride is obvious. They went punch for punch against an elite team and trusted a young scorer to carry them. The lesson is in the last minute habits. Crisp inbounds, strong screens, cleaner spacing against traps. They created great offense for most of the night, yet the final 10 percent decides great games. New Orleans is close. Cleaning that window will pay off in the stretch run.
The culture and the moment
Games like this feel like May. Everyone is on their feet. Every whistle means something. Every timeout is a chess move. Both teams played with speed and belief. It was a showcase of the modern game, space and skill, but also of old values, toughness, poise, and rebounding under pressure.
There is also a culture note here. Wings who can score from three levels run the league right now. Murphy looked ready for that stage. The Bucks, built on stars and finishers who thrive in structure, showed why experience travels. This was not a statement win or loss. It was a measuring stick, clear and loud.
Final word
Milwaukee earned this with execution, patience, and grown-up defense when it counted. New Orleans found a star turn, and a path to finish better the next time the lights get hot. If this is a preview of the months ahead, buckle up. This level of shot making and will power will decide seasons. Tonight, the Bucks had the final answer.
