NEW YORK, N.Y. – The New York Knicks hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.
New Orleans entered this matchup having lost their last game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home 111-106. New York entered this matchup on a six-game win streak. In their last game, the Knicks blew out the Washington Wizards 145-113 at Madison Square Garden.
The traditional “Let’s Get It Started” by Black Eyed Peas before tip-off echoed in the Garden as game time arrived. Herbert Jones and OG Anunoby got the scoring started for both teams. Midway through the first, Zion Williamson drove into two defenders and got the and-one to fall. At the end of the first quarter, New York got on fire, closing the quarter on a 15-0 run. Anunoby hit a buzzer-beating three to bring the Garden crowd to their feet. New York was up 42-28 after one.
Jeremiah Fears would end the run with a layup early in the second quarter. New Orleans would go on an 18-2 run of their own to take the lead 46-44. Jalen Brunson made a highlight play, faking out Saddiq Bey with a crossover and pump fake on his way to making his shot. During the final seconds of the second quarter, Dejounte Murray threw a lob to a flying Trey Murphy III on a fast break. The Pelicans outscored the Knicks 32-24 in the second quarter; however, New York finished the half with a 66-60 lead.
Coming out of the break, Williamson immediately went up high to bank in the layup with an opportunity for a three-point play. The third quarter would be back and forth for both teams. As the final seconds of the third quarter were running down, Brunson threw a no-look lob to Mitchell Robinson, giving the Knicks a 93-92 lead.
Mohammed Diawara and Karl Anthony-Towns buckets forced a timeout by New Orleans early in the fourth. Brunson would make various clutch shots down the stretch. New York was up 111-107 when Brunson drove left over contact and finished the layup. It was too little too late for the Pelicans as the Knicks won 121-116.
New York has now won seven straight games. Brunson led the way with 32 points and scored 15 points during the fourth quarter. KAT and OG both had 21 points. Williamson led the way for the Pelicans with 22 points, and Fears had 21 points.
Of Anthony-Town’s level of aggressiveness recently, Coach Mike Brown said, “I would say this, I had to adjust to him as well and that is what the season is about, we are not playing the same way offensively as we did to start the year, so I had to make adjustments to try figure out how to get him involved a little bit better, get him to feel more comfortable, and it’s showing a little bit. He’s obviously putting in the work, which you want all your guys to do, but it’s a two-way street, and it’s good to see him playing at the level he’s playing at right now.”
New York next plays the Charlotte Hornets on the road Thursday at 7:00 pm.
