Jalen Brunson erupted for a season-high 39 points, leading the New York Knicks to a 104-93 comeback victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night. The Knicks improved to 18-10, while the struggling Pelicans fell to 5-24, suffering their 15th loss in 16 games.
Brunson scored 29 of his points in the second half, overcoming a slow start against All-NBA defender Herb Jones’ intense pressure. New York shot just 35.6% in the first half and trailed 49-45 at the break.
The turning point came in the third quarter when Brunson spearheaded a 22-6 run, scoring 16 points, including 13 straight. The Knicks erased a 65-52 deficit and surged to a 74-71 lead. Brunson stayed aggressive in the fourth quarter, adding nine of the team’s first 13 points to push the lead to 95-81.
The Pelicans were led by Trey Murphy III, who tallied 26 points, and Dejounte Murray, who contributed 14. However, New Orleans faltered in key moments, extending their dismal season.
For the Knicks, Mikal Bridges provided 18 points, and OG Anunoby added 16. Karl-Anthony Towns faced foul trouble early, limiting him to five first-half points and just 10 minutes of play before halftime. Despite Towns’ struggles, the Knicks found success through their bench and efficient shooting in the second half.
Brunson finished the night shooting 13 of 19 from the field, including an impressive 7 of 10 from beyond the arc and a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. His performance proved pivotal as the Knicks’ defense tightened, forcing New Orleans into 19 turnovers.
Jones played a crucial role in stifling the Knicks’ offense in the first half but could not contain Brunson’s explosive scoring down the stretch. Yves Missi contributed nine points and eight rebounds for New Orleans, while Jordan Hawkins chipped in nine points off the bench.
New York’s depth proved critical in overcoming adversity, with Jericho Sims and Precious Achiuwa combining for 15 rebounds off the bench. The team’s 40.5% three-point shooting and aggressive defense offset their early shooting woes.
