The New York Knicks face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, December 29, with tipoff set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The interconference game pairs a contender from the East against a Western Conference team dealing with injuries and recent losses.
New York enters the night with a 22-9 record and a two-game winning streak. The Knicks defeated Atlanta 128-125 on December 27 and followed with a 126-124 win over Cleveland on Christmas Day.
New Orleans holds an 8-25 mark and is on a three-game skid. The Pelicans dropped back-to-back games to Phoenix, losing 114-123 on December 27 and 108-115 on December 26.
The teams have not met yet this season. Monday’s contest marks their first head-to-head of the 2025-26 campaign.
New York’s injury report impacts both its perimeter and frontcourt depth. Josh Hart is out with a right ankle sprain, while Mitchell Robinson remains sidelined for left ankle injury management. Miles McBride is listed as questionable due to a left ankle sprain. Landry Shamet is also unavailable with a right shoulder sprain.
Despite the absences, New York continues to rely on elite backcourt production. Jalen Brunson averages 29.5 points and 6.4 assists, providing consistent shot creation late in games. Karl-Anthony Towns anchors the interior with 22.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Mikal Bridges adds efficiency on both ends, shooting 42.0 percent from three while guarding multiple positions.
New Orleans’ injury report presents more significant challenges. Dejounte Murray remains out with a right Achilles rupture. Herbert Jones is sidelined with a right ankle sprain, impacting perimeter defense. Jose Alvarado is unavailable due to league suspension, further thinning the guard rotation.
Offensively, the Pelicans lean on Trey Murphy III, who averages 20.6 points on efficient shooting. Zion Williamson provides interior scoring at 21.7 points per game in limited appearances.
