F Trey Murphy III has been a bright spot for the New Orleans Pelicans (15-41) in a down year, but his status for Friday’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks (23-30) is up in the air. The swingman has stepped up as his team’s top option but is in danger of being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Tip-off for Friday's game is set for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Below, we’ll provide a Trey Murphy III injury update ahead of Bucks vs. Pelicans and identify a player worth targeting for your lineup additions, plus PrizePicks NBA projections and analysis for Friday.
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Trey Murphy Injury Update vs. Bucks Tonight
Murphy has been ruled out for Friday’s game with a right shoulder contusion.
It appears that he hasn’t made a full recovery since he first got hurt against the Miami Heat ahead of All-Star Weekend. Murphy's absence could force several other New Orleans players to pick up the slack on offense.
Murphy leads all Pelicans with a career-high 22.1 points per game and is only second to C Derik Queen in assists per game (3.8). Luckily for New Orleans, there’s a former All-Star on its roster who may take over against Milwaukee.
Pelican Who May Benefit With Murphy Out
F Zion Williamson averages a career-low 13.7 shots per contest but is still capable of stuffing the stat sheet when given the opportunity. The former Duke Blue Devil has showcased his scoring talent in all three of the games he’s appeared in without Murphy this season.
Williamson averages 27.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists without Murphy in 2025-26. The 25-year-old attempted at least 15 shots in all three contests while shooting 57.9% from the field. He operates effectively as a primary playmaker when asked and averages 9.9 potential assists per 100 possessions, according to databallr. That places him in the 91st percentile.
Milwaukee is undermanned without F Giannis Antetokounmpo and C Myles Turner, so an elite downhill driver like Williamson could live around the rim with more touches than he usually gets.
Zion Williamson Stats, Projections vs. Bucks
Here are the most popular Zion Williamson player picks vs. the Bucks tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 23.5 Points
- 4 Assists
- 27.5 Pts + Asts
- 1 Dunk
- 9.5 FG Made
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Make Bucks vs. Pelicans Picks on PrizePicks
Trey Murphy has been ruled out for Friday’s Bucks-Pelicans game with a shoulder injury, but Zion Williamson stands out as one of the top players who might shine during his absence. New Orleans’ second-leading scorer could be in for a strong performance after posting 25 points in his latest outing.
No matter how you think Friday’s Bucks vs. Pelicans game plays out, you can cash in on your NBA picks on PrizePicks. Just pick your players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if your picks are right.
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