Since returning from multi-week injury absences, New Orleans starters CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy and Dejounte Murray have begun to heat up lately offensively, including combining to rack up 77 points Thursday vs. Sacramento, with McCollum netting a season-high 36. But for New Orleans to start cracking the win column on a more regular basis, the team’s defense will need to similarly improve. The Kings built a double-digit fourth-quarter lead, then held off the Pelicans on the final New Orleans possession, stripping the ball from Murray to preserve a two-point lead.
THREE POINTS
Near-miracle fourth from CJ.…