New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) scores against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a basketball game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER
Zion Williamson returned to the starting lineup, but the New Orleans Pelicans still lost their fourth consecutive game.
Williamson, who had come off the bench in the previous seven games, scored 32 points, but it wasn’t enough as New Orleans (8-26) lost to the New York Knicks 130-125 on Monday night in the Smoothie King Center
Saddiq Bey and Jordan Poole scored 26 points each, and Trey Murphy added 21 for the Pelicans, who finish the 2025 portion of the schedule when they play at Chicago at 6 p.m. Wednesday before facing Portland at 7 p.m. Friday in the Smoothie King Center.
Reserve guard Jose Alvarado served the first game of a two-game suspension for his involvement in a fight with Phoenix center Mark Williams during s 123-114 home loss Saturday.
Jalen Brunson had 28 points and 10 assists, OG Anunoby had 23 points and 11 rebounds, Mohamed Diawara scored 18, Miles McBride chipped in 14, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks (23-9).
Williamson scored eight points, Murphy made two 3-pointers and the Pelicans extended their three-point halftime lead to 93-83 midway through the third quarter. But they went scoreless for more than four minutes, and the Knicks crept within 103-96 at the end of the period.
Tyler Kolek, Miles McBride and Towns each made a 3-pointer as New York started the fourth quarter with a 13-3 run to take a 109-106 lead.
New Orleans scored seven straight for a two-point lead, and the lead changed hands twice more before the score was tied at 114 and 117. Murphy broke the tie with a layup, and the lead changed hands three times before Brunson’s basket from the lane gave the Knicks a 124-121 edge with 1:06 left.
The Pelicans got within one point twice but couldn’t get a defensive stop. Poole missed a potential tying 3-pointer with seven seconds left.
Bey had 23 points in the first quarter, the most he has scored in any quarter in his career. The Pelicans made seven 3-pointers, the most they have made in a first quarter this season, and led 41-37 at the end of the period even though only four players scored.
Williamson scored eight points to help New Orleans opened a nine-point lead, but Anunoby scored eight points and Brunson added seven to help the Knicks pull even at 65-65. Poole made a 3-pointer to break the tie, and the Pelicans took a 75-72 halftime lead.
They scored the most first-quarter points and the most first-half points by a New York opponent this season.