New York Knicks Defeat The New Orleans Pelicans, 121-116 Behind Jalen Brunson’s Fourth Quarter Dominance
The New York Knicks took on the New Orleans Pelicans last night, March 24, 2026, in Madison Square Garden, and the game was nothing short of electrifying. The New York crowd is back on, hyping up their team’s winning streak.
The intensity carried over to the court, giving the players the surge they needed to put the Pelicans away in the fourth quarter. The Pelicans were not an “easy win” and fought hard throughout the game, but New York came out with the victory yet again.
Intense First-Half
The first quarter was extremely intense, with the Knicks and the Pelicans having a back-and-forth exchange on the scoreboard before the Knicks were able to pull away at the end of the quarter. Jordan Clarkson came in off the bench, providing a much-needed spark that helped the Knicks take over the quarter. He finished the game with 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists in 21 minutes of play.
The Knicks eventually dominated the quarter, shooting 71.4% from the field and 63.6% from beyond the arc. They went on a 15-0 run to take a 42-28 lead into the second quarter. After trailing by 14 points, the Pelicans tied the game at 46 in the second quarter by going on an 18-2 run led by rookie guard Jeremiah Fears.
He finished the game with 21 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Fears scored seven of the 18 points on the Pelicans’ run, which was capped off by a made three-pointer from Karlo Matkovic for a total of 12 points and 3 rebounds, putting the Pelicans up 46-44 a little under the five-minute mark.
The Knicks responded by going on a 7-0 run themselves, but the Pelicans fought back to tie the game again at 56 late in the second quarter. Despite the fight in the Pelicans, the Knicks regained control and closed the half with a 66-60 lead.
Pelicans Keep Up the Intensity In The Third Quarter
Both teams came out strong in the third quarter. Midway through, the Pelicans went on a run, building a 10-point lead led by Zion Williamson and Fears. Williamson finished the game on 8-10 shooting from the field with 22 points and 4 rebounds, shooting no three pointers all game.
The Knicks responded with intensive defensive play from OG Anunoby and Josh Hart. Hart, who finished the game with 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists, worked hard to keep Williamson off the boards. Anunoby was on a scoring and defensive tear, going 5-13 from beyond the arc for the game, adding 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals in 40 minutes of play.
The third quarter ended with the Knicks clawing back to keep the game close throughout the second half, setting up a dramatic finish in which Jalen Brunson eventually took over the fourth quarter.
Jalen Brunson Takes Over In The Fourth Quarter
The Pelicans came into the final quarter of the game only down by one point and kept the game competitive for the most part. They cut the Knicks’ lead to 109-107 with 4:28 remaining in the game, then Brunson took over.
Brunson scored 10 straight points, pushing the lead to 113-107, scoring 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. He sealed the Knicks’ victory by sinking two free throws with only 13 seconds left in the game, giving them a two-possession lead. Brunson also had 7 assists and one rebound.
Other Knicks players who contributed to their victory were centers Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Towns contributed another double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Robinson finished the game with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Mikal Bridges added 14 points, 7 assists, and a block.
FAQ Section
Q: What was the final score?
A: 121-116
Q: Who was the MVP of the game?
A: Jalen Brunson
Q: What was the turning point?
A: Jalen Brunson scores 10 straight points with 4:30 remaining in the fourth quarter
What’s Next For Each Team?
This win keeps the Knicks 0.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. Their current record for wins in a row this season is eight. Therefore, they will look to match that record when they go on the road to take on the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday and, when they play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, extend the streak to nine games.
This loss has officially eliminated the Pelicans from postseason contention. With the playoffs out of reach, they will focus on developing their young talent as they continue their road trip, traveling to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Thursday and the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
