Pelicans 116, Nets 113: Trey Murphy III posts 61.3 fantasy points
Tommy Flanagan
Journeyman Electrician · Boston Celtics fan
Trey Murphy III Just Made Everyone Else Look Stupid
Look, I'm gonna be straight with you. Trey Murphy III dropped 61.3 Yahoo points on a 22.2 season average last night. That's not a good game. That's a "why isn't this dude on your roster" game. 34 points on 12-22 shooting, 5 threes, 9 rebounds, 5 assists in 38 minutes. He was the entire Pelicans offense and the Nets had absolutely nothing for him. This is what happens when a role player gets unleashed against a defense that can't stay in front of him. The question isn't whether he went off, it's whether you already own him and if not, why the hell not.
Tonight's Top Performers
| Player | Yahoo FP | Tonight | Season Avg | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trey Murphy III (NOP) | 61.3 | 34/9/5/2/1 | 22.2/6.2/3.6 | +11.8 pts |
| Zion Williamson (NOP) | 40.2 | 25/6/2/1/2 | 22.6/5.8/3.5 | +2.4 pts |
| Yves Missi (NOP) | 35.4 | 12/12/4/0/1 | 5.4/5.4/1.1 | +6.6 pts |
| Egor Dëmin (BKN) | 29.5 | 17/0/5/1/1 | 10.4/3.1/3.5 | +6.6 pts |
| Michael Porter Jr. (BKN) | 27.9 | 20/7/1/0/0 | 25.8/7.5/3.2 | -5.8 pts |
| Drake Powell (BKN) | 25.0 | 16/5/2/0/0 | 6.2/1.6/1.7 | +9.8 pts |
The Winners
Trey Murphy III is the obvious choice here but let's dig deeper. He came in averaging 22.2 and dropped 34. That's not a typo. The rebounds (9, up 2.8), the assists (5, up 1.4), the efficient shooting (12-22, 5 threes). This wasn't volume padding. He was actually better than just "scoring a ton." If he's sitting on waivers in your league, that's a war crime.
Yves Missi is the sneaky one. The backup big came off the bench and went 6-13 for 12 points with 12 rebounds in 34 minutes. That's +6.6 rebounds vs his 5.4 average. The Nets frontcourt got cooked and New Orleans capitalized. He's not going to drop 12/12 every night, but if he keeps getting 30+ minutes, he's a legitimate streamer in deeper leagues.
Egor Dëmin showed up for Brooklyn with 17 points and 5 assists on 6-10 shooting, including 5 threes. That's +6.6 points above his 10.4 average. The young PG is giving you consistent upside and last night proved it. He's not your primary guy but he's the kind of role player you want punching above his weight in March.
The Letdowns
Michael Porter Jr. came in averaging 25.8 and dropped 20. That sounds fine until you realize it's -5.8 vs his season pace. He also grabbed 7 rebounds but took 20 shots (7-20). The Nets got pushed around all night and MPJ couldn't establish rhythm. This is one bad game, not a trend, but if he comes out flat again next outing, that's when you start asking questions.
Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen both underperformed. Fears went 3-13 for 7 points, -7.2 vs his 14.2 average. Queen was 0-5 in 16 minutes, -8.6 vs his 12.6 average. New Orleans' bench got garbage minutes in a blowout situation. Not panic-worthy, but good reminder that bench guys get hit hardest when their team is losing by double digits.
The Trends
The real story here is Yves Missi sneaking into 34 minutes. That's a role expansion for a guy who averages 5.4/5.4. If Zion stays healthy, Missi won't get this runway every night, but those minutes are growing and the Pelicans clearly trust him in close games. Keep an eye on the backup center situation in NOLA.
Drake Powell went 6-10 for 16 points and 5 rebounds in 24 minutes for Brooklyn. That's +9.8 vs his pathetic 6.2 average. One game sample, but the Nets are clearly trying to get this guy more involved. He's not a priority add yet, but if he keeps getting 20+ minutes, he could be a useful streamer.
The Moves
Add: Yves Missi if available. The Pelicans are giving him real minutes and he was dominant on the glass. Even if it regresses, 30+ minutes at center is playable in 12+ team leagues.
Drop: Jose Alvarado. He played zero minutes. Not worth holding if you've got injured guys pending activation.
Handcuff situation: Grab Drake Powell if you're streaming. The Nets need scoring and Powell showed up. Next game against a bottom-five defense? Start him. Against a strong unit? Fade.
Next Up
New Orleans hosts the next one. If the Pelicans keep feeding Trey Murphy III like this, he's a must-start every single game. Missi is your pickup target if he keeps playing 30+. For Brooklyn, that was a reminder they're still figuring out their rotation. Powell earned more looks, so monitor if he actually gets them.