NEW ORLEANS – In a game defined by offensive fireworks and dramatic momentum swings, the New York Knicks turned to a familiar closer and an unlikely spark to secure their third straight victory.
Jalen Brunson, the engine of New York’s offense, delivered when it mattered most, scoring the final crucial baskets in the dying minutes to lift the Knicks to a 130-125 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. While Brunson provided the finish, it was rookie Mohamed Diawara who provided the early ignition, offering a glimpse of the Knicks’ developing depth.
The contest at the Smoothie King Center was a wire-to-wire battle, with neither team leading by more than 10 points. With the score knotted at 117 and 3:36 remaining, the game dissolved into a test of wills.
Brunson took charge in the final minute. After grabbing his own rebound off a missed three-pointer, he floated a shot just inside the baseline to give New York a 124-121 advantage with 66 seconds left. Moments later, after Zion Williamson sank free throws to keep New Orleans alive, Brunson responded with a driving layup that effectively broke the Pelicans’ back. He finished with 28 points and 10 assists, orchestrating the offense with surgical precision.
Deuce McBride sealed the affair from the free-throw line, hitting four straight in the final 16 seconds, ensuring the Pelicans’ late desperate attempts fell short.
While Brunson dominated the ending, the beginning belonged to Mohamed Diawara. The French rookie, making just his third career start, looked like a seasoned veteran in the first quarter.
Diawara exploded out of the gate, scoring 13 points in the opening period alone—more than he had ever scored in a full NBA game prior to Monday. He finished with a career-high 18 points, providing a stunning offensive boost that caught New Orleans off guard. His breakout performance complemented solid outings from OG Anunoby (23 points, 11 rebounds) and Karl-Anthony Towns (12 points, 12 rebounds), showcasing a balanced Knicks attack.
For New Orleans, the loss wasted a dominant showing from Zion Williamson. The Pelicans star poured in a season-high 32 points, bullying his way to the rim and keeping his team in the fight. He was supported by Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole, who each scored 26 points, with Bey torching the Knicks for 23 in the first quarter alone.
Despite shooting 50% or better in the first half and carrying a 75-72 lead into the break, the Pelicans couldn’t sustain their defensive intensity down the stretch. The loss marks their fourth straight, a concerning slide for a team struggling to find wins without key pieces like the suspended Jose Alvarado.
The victory signals the Knicks’ growing resilience on the road. Finding contributions deep down the roster—from Diawara’s surprise production to McBride’s steady free-throw shooting—suggests New York is building the kind of versatility needed for a playoff push. Conversely, New Orleans finds itself searching for answers. With their defense faltering late in games and a losing streak mounting, the pressure is building to turn talent into results.
New York leaves the Big Easy with momentum and a new weapon in their rotation. If Diawara can continue to provide meaningful minutes alongside stars like Brunson and Towns, the Knicks become a significantly more dangerous team. The Pelicans, meanwhile, are left to wonder how a night of season-high scoring efforts resulted in another notch in the loss column.
