Persistent Knicks look to continue Pelicans' woes

FLM
Dec 28, 2025

The finishing kick for the undermanned New York Knicks on Saturday night showed why they're considered NBA title contenders.

The end-game execution by the New Orleans Pelicans displayed why they're still in the early stages of a rebuild.

The Knicks will look to continue their impressive December on Monday night when they visit the Pelicans in the first clash of the season between the teams.

Both teams were off Sunday following closely contested games Saturday. The Knicks squandered an 18-point second-half lead before edging the host Atlanta Hawks 128-125 while the Pelicans' comeback bid fell short in a 123-114 loss to the visiting Phoenix Suns.

The Knicks, who will be without starter Josh Hart (right ankle) for a three-game road trip that began Saturday, appeared on their way to an uneventful win when they opened an 85-67 lead with 6:55 left in the third quarter.

The Hawks roared back by shooting 52.7% the rest of the way (19-of-36) -- including 64.7% (11 of 17) in the fourth quarter, when they were 5 of 7 from 3-point land.

But New York -- and OG Anunoby in particular -- clamped down after falling behind 125-124 on Nickeil Alexander-Walker's layup with 49 seconds left. Anunoby was fouled as he pulled down an offensive rebound of Jalen Brunson's errant jumper and hit both free throws to put the Knicks up for good with 29 seconds left.

Anunoby then intercepted a pass by Trae Young and hit two more free throws. The power forward iced the win and closed out a double-double just before the buzzer by grabbing the rebound of Alexander-Walker's misfired 3-pointer.

The late stand by Anunoby (15 points, 10 rebounds) capped an impressive night for the Knicks' big three. Karl-Anthony Towns had a game-high 36 points and 15 rebounds while Brunson finished with 34 points as New York, which won the NBA Cup earlier this month, improved to 10-3 in December and 22-9 overall.

"It's a team game, so we need the whole team to impact winning," Towns said, "And I think everybody did that tonight. And down the list you can bring up everyone was really special when we needed them to be, especially OG."

The Pelicans suffered their third straight loss Saturday when they led 33-32 after the first quarter before falling behind for good on Collin Gillespie's 3-pointer 23 seconds into the second. New Orleans cut a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to two points with 3:54 left, when Zion Williamson sank a pair of free throws to bring the hosts within 108-106.

But the Suns hit six of their last seven shots from the field while the Pelicans committed a pair of turnovers and didn't score a field goal until Jeremiah Fears' layup accounted for the game's final points with six seconds left.

The loss was the 14th by nine points or fewer this season for the Pelicans, whose rotation Saturday featured three rookies -- starters Fears and Derik Queen as well as reserve Micah Peavy -- along with starting guard Bryce McGowens, who is on a two-way deal.

New Orleans, which has endured six-, seven- and nine-game losing streaks this season, has the worst record in the Western Conference at 8-25.

"The resiliency was there, the toughness, the fight was there -- I've got to give our guys credit for that, they never dropped the sword," interim Pelicans head coach James Borrego said. "I think we were right there in that game. One-possession game, four minutes to go, I'll take that with this group any night. We've just got to close and be better down the stretch."

--Field Level Media

2nd Quarter
NY
Knicks
35
NO
Pelicans
34

Time		Play	Score
0:00		End of period
0:00		OG Anunoby defensive rebound
0:02		Zion Williamson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:02	+1	Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	72-75
0:02		Ariel Hukporti shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul)
0:13	+2	OG Anunoby makes two point driving dunk (Mikal Bridges assists)	72-74
0:32	+2	Kevon Looney makes two point tip layup	70-74
0:32		Kevon Looney offensive rebound
0:33		Trey Murphy III misses two point driving layup
0:45	+2	OG Anunoby makes two point driving layup (Jalen Brunson assists)	70-72
0:51	+2	Zion Williamson makes two point driving layup	68-72
1:05	+3	Mohamed Diawara makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists)	68-70
1:22	+2	Trey Murphy III makes two point driving floating jump shot (Saddiq Bey assists)	65-70
1:37		Trey Murphy III defensive rebound
1:40		OG Anunoby misses two point driving layup
1:47		Knicks offensive rebound
1:47		Jalen Brunson misses three point stepback jump shot
2:00	+3	Jordan Poole makes three point jump shot (Kevon Looney assists)	65-68
2:11	+2	OG Anunoby makes two point running layup	65-65
2:16		OG Anunoby defensive rebound
2:20		Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot
2:30	+1	OG Anunoby makes regular free throw 2 of 2	63-65
2:30	+1	OG Anunoby makes regular free throw 1 of 2	62-65
2:30		Zion Williamson personal foul (OG Anunoby draws the foul)
2:33		Kevon Looney personal foul (Ariel Hukporti draws the foul)
2:56	+2	Zion Williamson makes two point driving reverse layup	61-65
3:07	+2	Jalen Brunson makes two point turnaround jump shot	61-63
3:28	+2	Jeremiah Fears makes two point driving floating jump shot	59-63
3:37		Pelicans offensive rebound
3:37		Zion Williamson misses two point tip layup
3:38		Zion Williamson offensive rebound
3:40		Kevon Looney misses two point tip layup
3:40		Kevon Looney offensive rebound
3:41		Zion Williamson misses two point turnaround hook shot
3:42		Zion Williamson offensive rebound
3:44		Saddiq Bey misses three point stepback jump shot
4:02		Pelicans 60 second timeout
4:03	+2	Jalen Brunson makes two point driving layup	59-61
4:13		Mikal Bridges defensive rebound
4:16		Derik Queen misses two point turnaround jump shot
4:30	+3	Jalen Brunson makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists)	57-61
4:40		Guerschon Yabusele defensive rebound
4:42		Trey Murphy III misses two point fadeaway jump shot
4:56		Yves Missi defensive rebound
4:59		Jalen Brunson misses three point jump shot
5:19	+1	Saddiq Bey makes regular free throw 1 of 1	54-61
5:19		Kevin McCullar Jr. shooting foul (Saddiq Bey draws the foul)
5:19	+2	Saddiq Bey makes two point driving floating jump shot	54-60
5:44	+2	Miles McBride makes two point pullup jump shot	54-58
5:53		Ariel Hukporti defensive goaltending violation
5:53	+2	Jeremiah Fears makes two point running reverse layup	52-58
5:57		Tyler Kolek turnover (lost ball) (Jeremiah Fears steals)
6:15		Saddiq Bey turnover (offensive foul)
6:15		Saddiq Bey offensive foul (Charge) (Kevin McCullar Jr. draws the foul)
6:16		Saddiq Bey offensive rebound
6:19		Derik Queen misses three point jump shot
6:22		Pelicans offensive rebound
6:24		Derik Queen misses two point driving floating jump shot
6:35		Trey Murphy III defensive rebound
6:37		OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot
6:42		Guerschon Yabusele offensive rebound
6:44		Tyler Kolek misses three point jump shot
7:03		Knicks defensive rebound
7:05		Jeremiah Fears misses three point jump shot
7:16		Yves Missi defensive rebound
7:19		Miles McBride misses three point jump shot
7:30		Saddiq Bey turnover (lost ball) (Miles McBride steals)
7:43		Pelicans 60 second timeout
7:44	+2	OG Anunoby makes two point putback layup	52-56
7:45		OG Anunoby offensive rebound
7:46		OG Anunoby misses two point driving layup
7:53		OG Anunoby defensive rebound
7:56		Trey Murphy III misses two point stepback jump shot
8:09	+1	OG Anunoby makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-56
8:09	+1	OG Anunoby makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-56
8:09		Zion Williamson shooting foul (OG Anunoby draws the foul)
8:20	+1	Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	48-56
8:20	+1	Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-55
8:20		Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul)
8:31	+3	Karl-Anthony Towns makes three point jump shot (Tyler Kolek assists)	48-54
8:41	+2	Zion Williamson makes two point driving layup	45-54
8:47		Zion Williamson defensive rebound
8:49		Miles McBride misses three point jump shot
8:58	+1	Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-52
8:58	+1	Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-51
8:58		Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul)
9:10	+2	OG Anunoby makes two point driving dunk (Karl-Anthony Towns assists)	45-50
9:22	+1	Jordan Poole makes regular free throw 1 of 1	43-50
9:22		Miles McBride shooting foul (Jordan Poole draws the foul)
9:22	+2	Jordan Poole makes two point pullup jump shot (Kevon Looney assists)	43-49
9:31		Jordan Poole defensive rebound
9:34		Jordan Hawkins blocks Tyler Kolek's two point driving layup
9:52		Knicks 60 second timeout
9:52	+2	Zion Williamson makes two point driving finger roll layup	43-47
10:01	+1	OG Anunoby makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-45
10:01	+1	OG Anunoby makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-45
10:01		Jordan Hawkins shooting foul (OG Anunoby draws the foul)
10:12	+2	Zion Williamson makes two point driving finger roll layup (Jordan Hawkins assists)	41-45
10:28	+3	Tyler Kolek makes three point jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists)	41-43
10:33		OG Anunoby offensive rebound
10:37		Jordan Clarkson misses three point running jump shot
10:41		Jordan Hawkins turnover (bad pass) (OG Anunoby steals)
10:53		Knicks turnover (shot clock violation)
10:59		Knicks offensive rebound
10:59		Zion Williamson blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point driving floating jump shot
11:20	+2	Jordan Hawkins makes two point pullup jump shot (Zion Williamson assists)	38-43
11:33	+1	Tyler Kolek makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-41
11:33		Knicks offensive rebound
11:33		Tyler Kolek misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:33		Micah Peavy shooting foul (Tyler Kolek draws the foul)
11:45		Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound
11:47		Zion Williamson misses two point driving layup

1st Quarter
NY
Knicks
37
NO
Pelicans
41

Time		Play	Score
0:00		End of period
0:01		Pelicans offensive rebound
0:01		Jordan Poole misses three point pullup jump shot
0:18		Guerschon Yabusele turnover (bad pass) (Saddiq Bey steals)
0:20	+2	Saddiq Bey makes two point driving finger roll layup (Yves Missi assists)	37-41
0:27		Saddiq Bey defensive rebound
0:31		Jalen Brunson misses two point turnaround jump shot
0:49	+3	Jordan Poole makes three point jump shot (Zion Williamson assists)	37-39
0:58	+3	Guerschon Yabusele makes three point jump shot (Jordan Clarkson assists)	37-36
1:05		Jordan Clarkson defensive rebound
1:09		Saddiq Bey misses two point stepback jump shot
1:26	+1	Jordan Clarkson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	34-36
1:26	+1	Jordan Clarkson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-36
1:26		Jordan Hawkins shooting foul (Jordan Clarkson draws the foul)
1:41	+2	Zion Williamson makes two point putback dunk	32-36
1:41		Zion Williamson offensive rebound
1:44		Saddiq Bey misses three point jump shot
1:45		Jordan Poole offensive rebound
1:49		OG Anunoby blocks Jordan Hawkins's three point jump shot
1:57	+1	Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	32-34
1:57	+1	Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-34
1:57		Jordan Poole shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul)
2:10	+1	Jordan Poole makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-34
2:10	+1	Jordan Poole makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-33
2:10		Guerschon Yabusele shooting foul (Jordan Poole draws the foul)
2:24		OG Anunoby turnover (out of bounds bad pass)
2:24		OG Anunoby defensive rebound
2:28		Trey Murphy III misses three point jump shot
2:45	+3	Guerschon Yabusele makes three point jump shot (OG Anunoby assists)	30-32
2:59	+1	Jordan Poole makes regular free throw 2 of 2	27-32
2:59	+1	Jordan Poole makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-31
2:59		Knicks 60 second timeout
2:59		Ariel Hukporti shooting foul (Jordan Poole draws the foul)
3:10	+2	Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot (Jalen Brunson assists)	27-30
3:27	+3	Saddiq Bey makes three point jump shot (Jordan Poole assists)	25-30
3:54	+2	Mohamed Diawara makes two point running layup (Jalen Brunson assists)	25-27
3:56		Jalen Brunson defensive rebound
3:57		Derik Queen misses two point tip layup
3:57		Derik Queen offensive rebound
4:00		Saddiq Bey misses two point driving reverse layup
4:08		Trey Murphy III defensive rebound
4:11		Jalen Brunson misses two point driving layup
4:25	+3	Saddiq Bey makes three point jump shot (Trey Murphy III assists)	23-27
4:31		Kevon Looney offensive rebound
4:33		Jordan Poole misses three point running jump shot
4:38		Trey Murphy III defensive rebound
4:42		Jalen Brunson misses two point pullup jump shot
4:52	+3	Jordan Poole makes three point jump shot (Saddiq Bey assists)	23-24
5:08		Guerschon Yabusele turnover (traveling)
5:20	+1	Saddiq Bey makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-21
5:20	+1	Saddiq Bey makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-20
5:20		OG Anunoby shooting foul (Saddiq Bey draws the foul)
5:40	+3	Mohamed Diawara makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists)	23-19
5:54	+3	Saddiq Bey makes three point running jump shot (Trey Murphy III assists)	20-19
5:57		Derik Queen defensive rebound
6:00		Derik Queen blocks Karl-Anthony Towns's two point putback layup
6:00		Karl-Anthony Towns offensive rebound
6:03		Jalen Brunson misses two point driving floating bank jump shot
6:17		Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound
6:17		Derik Queen misses three point pullup jump shot
6:25	+2	Karl-Anthony Towns makes two point driving layup (Jalen Brunson assists)	20-16
6:43	+2	Saddiq Bey makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Derik Queen assists)	18-16
6:58	+1	Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-14
6:58	+1	Karl-Anthony Towns makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-14
6:58		Pelicans 60 second timeout
6:58		Trey Murphy III shooting foul (Karl-Anthony Towns draws the foul)
7:00		Mohamed Diawara defensive rebound
7:02		Jeremiah Fears misses two point running layup
7:07		Jeremiah Fears defensive rebound
7:12		Karl-Anthony Towns misses three point pullup jump shot
7:18		OG Anunoby defensive rebound
7:20		Zion Williamson misses two point driving floating jump shot
7:33	+3	Mohamed Diawara makes three point pullup jump shot	16-14
7:53	+1	Zion Williamson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	13-14
7:53		Pelicans offensive rebound
7:53		Zion Williamson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:53		Karl-Anthony Towns shooting foul (Zion Williamson draws the foul)
8:07	+3	Jalen Brunson makes three point pullup jump shot	13-13
8:15		Karl-Anthony Towns defensive rebound
8:19		Trey Murphy III misses three point running pullup jump shot
8:23		Trey Murphy III defensive rebound
8:26		OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot
8:37	+1	Saddiq Bey makes regular free throw 2 of 2	10-13
8:37		Pelicans offensive rebound
8:37		Saddiq Bey misses regular free throw 1 of 2
8:37		Jalen Brunson shooting foul (Saddiq Bey draws the foul)
8:54	+2	Mikal Bridges makes two point running layup (Karl-Anthony Towns assists)	10-12
8:59		Derik Queen turnover (bad pass) (Mohamed Diawara steals)
9:03		Derik Queen defensive rebound
9:07		Derik Queen blocks OG Anunoby's two point cutting layup
9:19	+3	Trey Murphy III makes three point jump shot (Derik Queen assists)	8-12
9:26	+1	Jalen Brunson makes regular free throw 1 of 1	8-9
9:26		Derik Queen shooting foul (Jalen Brunson draws the foul)
9:26	+2	Jalen Brunson makes two point turnaround jump shot	7-9
9:45	+2	Saddiq Bey makes two point stepback jump shot	5-9
9:49		Saddiq Bey defensive rebound
9:54		Mohamed Diawara misses two point running finger roll layup
9:57		Derik Queen turnover (lost ball) (Mohamed Diawara steals)
10:02		Derik Queen defensive rebound
10:04		OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot
10:17	+3	Saddiq Bey makes three point running jump shot (Jeremiah Fears assists)	5-7
10:22		Derik Queen defensive rebound
10:24		Jalen Brunson misses two point driving layup
10:32	+2	Trey Murphy III makes two point driving layup	5-4
10:39		Zion Williamson defensive rebound
10:42		OG Anunoby misses three point jump shot
10:55	+2	Saddiq Bey makes two point reverse layup (Jeremiah Fears assists)	5-2
11:05	+3	Mohamed Diawara makes three point jump shot (Karl-Anthony Towns assists)	5-0
11:15		Mikal Bridges defensive rebound
11:17		Derik Queen misses two point jump shot
11:37	+2	Mohamed Diawara makes two point driving hook shot	2-0
12:00		Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Derik Queen (Mohamed Diawara gains possession)

OG Anunoby defensive rebound