Jalen Brunson scored 28 points and handed out 10 assists, hitting a driving floater and layup in the final 1:06, as the New York Knicks (23-9) edged the New Orleans Pelicans (8-26) 130-125 on Monday night at Smoothie King Center.
OG Anunoby contributed 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Mohamed Diawara scored a career-high 18 points in just his third career start. Karl-Anthony Towns added a double-double with 12 points and 12 boards.
Zion Williamson led New Orleans with a season-high 32 points, and Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole each scored 26, with Trey Murphy III adding 21, but the Pelicans dropped their fourth straight game.
The contest was tightly contested throughout, with neither team leading by more than 10 points in a first half dominated by efficient scoring. The Pelicans held a 75-72 advantage at halftime, both squads shooting 50% or better.
With 3:36 left, the game was tied at 117, and Brunson’s quick response gave New York a 124-121 edge after rebounding his own missed three and converting a running floater.
Miles McBride added four clutch free throws in the final 16 seconds to secure the win, capping a Knicks rally that featured a 13-0 run to take a 105-102 lead earlier in the fourth quarter.
Diawara’s breakout first quarter included 13 points, surpassing his previous career high of five, while Bey scored 23 points for New Orleans in the same period.
Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado, a native of New York, missed the game due to a two-game suspension following an altercation on Saturday against Phoenix.
The Knicks extended their winning streak to three games and will face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. New Orleans, still searching for consistency, will visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
