Bucks overcome a 44-point game by Trey Murphy III and beat Pelicans 141-137 in OT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Rollins scored 27 points and the Milwaukee Bucks withstood a brilliant performance from Trey Murphy III to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 141-137 in overtime Wednesday night.

Murphy scored a career-high 44 points and shot 12 of 19 from 3-point range. His 12 3-pointers matched the fifth-highest, single-game total in NBA history. The single-game record belongs to Klay Thompson, who had 14 for Golden State against Chicago on Oct. 29, 2018.

The teams shot a combined 45 of 93 from 3-point range, with New Orleans 24 of 46 and Milwaukee 21 of 47. The Bucks shot a season-best 60.9% overall.

The Bucks pulled ahead for good by scoring the first five points of overtime, on a Rollins driving layup and a Myles Turner 3-pointer. New Orleans trailed 139-137 when Zion Williamson was called for an offensive foul just before Saddiq Bey hit a 3-pointer that would have put the Pelicans ahead with 6.5 seconds left in overtime.

Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. then hit two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining. Porter had 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds in his return after missing six game with an oblique strain.

AJ Green scored 20 points for Milwaukee. Bey had 22 points and Williamson 20 for New Orleans.

Milwaukee appeared to take the lead on Myles Turner’s tiebreaking corner 3-pointer with 5.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but a replay review determined his left heel was out of bounds before he took the shot.

The Bucks won for a second straight night after snapping a five-game skid with a 131-115 victory over Chicago on Tuesday. The Bucks haven't won more than two consecutive games at any point this season.

Milwaukee remained without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who hasn’t played since straining his right calf on Jan. 23. Antetokounmpo, the subject of widespread trade rumors, watched from Milwaukee's bench on the night before the trade deadline.

Pelicans: Visit Minnesota on Friday.

Bucks: Host Indiana on Friday.

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Milwaukee Bucks' Amir Coffey shoots past New Orleans Pelicans' Karlo Matkovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Amir Coffey tries to get past New Orleans Pelicans' Yves Missi during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Kyle Kuzma and New Orleans Pelicans' Herbert Jones go after a loose ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Kevin Porter Jr. gets past New Orleans Pelicans' Saddiq Bey during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Amir Coffey grabs a loose ball in front of New Orleans Pelicans' Yves Missi during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Free agent pitcher Framber Valdez and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a $115 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.

Valdez became one of baseball’s most durable starters with the Houston Astros. Now, the left-hander is set to join a Tigers rotation anchored by two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.

Skubal went to a record-setting salary arbitration hearing Wednesday, with the left-hander asking for $32 million and the Tigers offering $19 million.

Valdez is a two-time All-Star and 2022 World Series champion. He was Houston's ace last season with a 13-11 record and 3.66 ERA, and became a free agent for the first time.

He struck out 187 and walked 68 in 192 innings, and had a major league-high 12 wild pitches while making $18 million on a deal reached last offseason that avoided salary arbitration. He started Houston’s last four season openers.

Since making his major league debut in 2018 with the Astros, he is 81-52 with a 3.36 ERA. The 32-year-old Dominican averaged more than 191 innings the past four seasons, joining Giants right-hander Logan Webb as the only two pitchers to throw at least 175 innings each of those years.

Valdez was 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA over 28 games in 2024 and threw a no-hitter in 2023, when he was an All-Star for a second straight season. He is 8-4 with a 4.34 ERA in 17 postseason games, including 16 starts.

Valdez pitched in two World Series for the Astros, and was the winning pitcher in the clinching Game 6 that secured their 2022 championship against Philadelphia.

In the 2022 Series, he was 2-0 in two starts while allowing two runs over 12 1/3 innings (1.46 ERA) with 18 strikeouts. A year earlier, he gave up 10 runs and 12 hits over 4 2/3 innings (19.29 ERA) in two starts against Atlanta.

Valdez rejected a $22,025,000 qualifying offer from the Astros in November, so they would receive a compensatory pick after the fourth round of the 2026 amateur draft if he completes his deal with Detroit, which would forfeit its third-highest selection.

Valdez pitched a no-hitter against Cleveland on Aug. 1, 2023. He came close to another one just more than a year later against Texas, but that bid was broken up when Corey Seager homered with two outs in the ninth inning.

There was a strange moment last season when Valdez denied intentionally hitting his catcher in the chest with a pitch almost immediately after giving up a grand slam in a loss to the New York Yankees.

Two pitches after Trent Grisham’s slam in the Yankees’ 7-1 victory on Sept. 2, Valdez crossed up catcher César Salazar by throwing a 92.8 mph sinker to Anthony Volpe. Salazar moved his glove downward as the pitch approached the plate, an indication he was expecting a pitch with less velocity and more break. The ball hit him in his chest protector.

Just before the pitch Grisham sent over the fence, Salazar had motioned for Valdez to step off the mound. Valdez and Salazar both said after the game the pitch that hit the catcher wasn’t on purpose.

Astros manager Joe Espada insisted a day later the situation was “100%” resolved in his mind, and he wanted to “get past this and get back to baseball," and he met with both players.

AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins contributed to this report.

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FILE - Houston Astros pitcher Framber Valdez throws to an Athletics batter during the third inning of a baseball game Sept. 25, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall, File)