Bucks’ surge continues in win vs. overmatched Pelicans

Cam Thomas and Ryan Rollins each scored 27 points and Kevin Porter Jr. added 25, fueling the visiting Milwaukee Bucks to a 139-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

Thomas sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor in 21 minutes off the bench.

Rollins drained a career-high seven 3-pointers and matched Porter by going 10 of 15 from the floor for the Bucks, who pulled away by outscoring the Pelicans 36-22 in the fourth quarter.

Bobby Portis recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds to propel Milwaukee to its third win in a row and sixth in the last seven games. The Bucks are a half-game back of the final play-in tournament spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bucks shot a blistering 59.8% from the floor to offset the absence of superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed his 10th consecutive game due to a right calf strain.

New Orleans' Zion Williamson scored 14 of his 32 points in the first quarter. He made 13 of 17 shots from the floor for the game and helped the Pelicans control the interior. New Orleans scored 84 of its points in the paint.

Saddiq Bey contributed 22 points and rookie Derik Queen added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Pelicans, who have lost five of their last seven.

Leading scorer Trey Murphy III sat out due to a shoulder injury. He erupted for a career-high 44 points in New Orleans' 141-137 overtime loss at Milwaukee on Feb. 4.

Jeremiah Fears made a driving layup to bring the Pelicans within 113-106 with 7:50 remaining before Milwaukee ignited a 9-0 run. Ousmane Dieng sank a step-back jumper, Pete Nance drained a 3-pointer and Porter added a pair of buckets.

The Bucks put it on cruise control from there.

Portis sank a 3-pointer to stake the Bucks to a 91-82 lead midway into the third before the Pelicans responded with a 10-3 run. Williamson exploited the interior with a pair of layups during the latter sequence.

New Orleans erased an early six-point deficit and seized a 38-33 lead at the end of the first quarter.