The New Orleans Pelicans let a promising start unravel in a stunning 104-93 collapse to the New York Knicks on Saturday night. Despite a gritty defensive effort from Herb Jones, who held Jalen Brunson to just six first-half points, the Pelicans couldn’t withstand the Knicks’ relentless second-half surge.
Trey Murphy III paced New Orleans with 26 points, and Dejounte Murray added 14, but their efforts weren’t enough to stave off the Knicks, who turned a 13-point deficit into a commanding victory. Up 45-32 midway through the second quarter, New Orleans looked poised to secure their first double-digit win since early December but faltered under mounting pressure.
Jalen Brunson caught fire in the second half, scoring 29 of his season-high 39 points, including a personal 13-point run that fueled a Knicks’ 22-6 third-quarter burst. The Pelicans’ offense stalled during the critical stretch, managing just 14 points over nearly 11 minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters. It marked yet another disappointing chapter for a team now mired in a 15-loss-in-16-games slump.
Despite flashes of promise, such as Brandon Boston’s deep three-pointer that gave New Orleans its largest lead, the team continues to struggle with consistency and closing out games. With the Denver Nuggets (14-11) visiting on Sunday, the Pelicans face a steep uphill battle to turn their season around.
